PORTFOLIO

María Castilla Bravo

Urban Design & Architecture



Table of Contents
01. Urban Design: Large-scale Projects
“City Of The River” Proposal
Page 3

02. Urban Design: Master Plans

Opportunity Areas  
Page 5

MARIA CASTILLA
(+44) 07826252194
mcastilla02@gmail.com
Date of Birth: 21.10.1991
03. Urban Design: Public Space
Bus Rapid Transport System BRT, Bogotá´s 7th Street
Page 7
Work Experience
Camilo Santamaria Urbanismo. Bogotá, Colombia.
08/2016- 08/2019


Alex D Architects. London, England.
01/2015 - 01/2016
04. Architecture: Mixed Use
Ciudad Cristales, Housing Development 
Page 8
Academic Experience
Master´s Degree: Urban Design and City Planning
University College London UCL


September 2019 - September 2020 05. Architecture: Creative Office Building
Buildings for campus of Bolivariana University
Bachelor´s Degree in Architecture
Page 9
University of Los Andes. Bogotá, Colombia.

08/2011 - 06/2016 - 1st Distinction

Volunteer Experience
Habitat for Humanity
06. Architecture: Residential
Bachelor´s Degree Final Project  
Bogotá. 25th of October 2018 – December 2019
Page 14

Teacher of Mathematics and English.

Bogotá. 17th of January 2010 – July 15 2010 07. Architecture: Residential
Urban Regeneration National Competition  
Volunteer at Doctor Sonrisas
Page 14

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 01. City of The River
Co-Owners: Camilo Santamaria Urbanismo S.A.S

Today, the 30-kilometer border of the River Bogotá does not have
any formal regulations; therefore, informal developments have
been settling in this forgotten territory.

The City of the River Project aims in giving a solution to this problem:
developing 1.300 hectares of this land by making an inclusive and
sustainable proposal.

I worked in this project for almost two years, leading a team of four
people of my corporation. I worked jointly with a partner company, with
the local government and with the affected community to guarantee
the project´s success. The documents containing both the urban
analysis, and the urban design and planning proposal were presented
to Bogotá´s mayor, and are currently in the process for approval in the
Planning District.

Case study Proposal Example: Master Plan

Case Study Proposal Example: Drawing

3
 City of The River Master Plan: 1.300 hectares along the 60-kilometers river

1. Mixed-use Housing 2. Green Public Park 3. High-Density Housing 4. Public River-front 5. River 6. Mixed-Use Housing

Typical Cut Section

4
 02. Opportunity Areas
Co-Owners: Camilo Santamaria Urbanismo S.A.S

Proposed Plan:The Opportunity areas in Bogotá for Urban Regeneration Proposed Plan:The Opportunity areas in Bogotá for Urban Regeneration

The two upper images are examples of the plans we showed to the Planning District to show
the identified Opportunity Areas to include in Bogotá´s Master Plan of Urban Regeneration.
These plans have been presented to the Planning District and are now in the approval process
for Bogotá´s new Planning Document: The POT.

The photo of the right shows a 3-meter long, hand-made model of a key area in Bogotá. It was done
so we could have a better understanding of this area´s existing urban form and structure. It is a
strategic sector as it has the intersection of two main highways that connect the city with the outside
municipalities, has a valuable ecological connection such as a wetland and other green spaces, and
has a low density housing (houses of two or three storeys). In other words, this area has a tremendous
urban potential to be regenerated and become one key sector in Bogotá.

The proposed master plan for the renewal of this area included several case study examples, such as
the proposal for the surrounding area of a park called Normandía, which is shown in the next page.

Model of

5
The project shown above is one of the case studies presented
to CAMACOL as a specific example of how Urban Regeneration
processes should be done in Bogotá and in Colombia.
Current Cut Section
Proposed Cut Section
Proposed Plan
This specific case example shows the importance of taking advantage
of the city´s existing green spaces. Today, the borders of the Park
Normandía have single family, two-storey deteriorated houses. The
proposal aims in developing all the plot around the park with high
density affordable housing.
Model of Current Situation
The proposal has a transition from public space to private space, having
communal spaces in the centre of the plots. It is an inclusive development,
as all financial calculations were done involving the current inhabitants
as future inhabitants of the project, avoiding gentrification.
Hand-Made Model of Project´s Proposal
Model of Proposal
6
 03. Bus Rapid Transport Sysitem BRT, Bogotá
Co-Owners: Camilo Santamaria Urbanismo S.A.S

Proposed Plan

By working at Camilo Santamaria Urbanismo, I have had the chance

to participate in the urban design proposal for the new line of the
BRT, which aims in not only implementing this public transportation
system along the street, but also regenerating the affected plots and
designing all the public space along the project.

The plan above shows an important section of the proposal: the front
of The National Park of Bogotá, located in the city´s historic centre.
Having the Transmilenio in front of this important landmark will be a
positive asset to the country as a whole.
Actual Photo Proposed Image

7
 04. Ciudad Cristales Development
Co-Owners: Camilo Santamaria Urbanismo S.A.S

Master Plan Community Halls The Church

The development of Ciudad Cristales demanded

a vaiety of scales: starting from an urban design
proposal for the Master Plan and then several
detail drawings for each building and flat.

The buildings done for this project included

different buildings of high-density housing,
community halls, a public catholic church, public Front Elevation
parks and sport facilities, amongst others.

All the project´s buildings were made in Revit as

a collaborative work with the design team.

DISEÑO PAISAJÍSTICO
1. PLANTEAMIENTO PAISAJÍSTICO MANZANA NO VIS
ENTRADA

FRANJA ARBORIZADA DE
ANTEJARDÍN

PLAZOLETA DE ACCESO CON ESPEJO

DE AGUA Y CASCADA
ESTACIONAMIENTO EXTERIOR FRANJA ARBORIZADA PERIMETRAL

FRANJA ARBORIZADA EN
PARQUEADEROS
ZONA DE JUEGOS PARA NIÑOS

SALÓN COMUNAL
ZONA DE SALÓN
YOGA COMUNAL

ESPEJO DE AGUA LINEAL

2 PUNTOS CON FUENTES
ZONA DE HAMACAS (4 UN)

PLAZOLETA DE ESTANCIA CON

PÉRGOLA

ZONA DE PISCINAS
TOTAL = 320 M2

ZONA DE HAMACAS (4 UN)

PROYECTO LA PALMITA
VILLETA - CUNDINAMARCA

Master Plan for First Stage First Floor Plan

8
 05. Creative Office Building
Co-Owners: Camilo Santamaria Urbanismo S.A.S

This project consisted in creating two new buildings of Creative Offices

for the University Bolivariana, in Bogotá.
Propuesta de Café y punto de pago
Two buildings were designed: one for offices and one for commercial
uses. The main building has an interior void of five floors, which
allows plenty of natural light in the offices. This natural light and
ventilation
Café makes the building
Bancasustainable,
Kiinden _ Konkretus as Vegetación
it decreases
Natural the energy
consumption, and makes a visual impact in the visitors.

Piso Elevado
Entrada Atrio_ Piso 1: Escaleras Sólidas

Ground Floor Plan

9
Vista exterior. Fachada Occidental
Fachada Sur Oriental

Fachada Sur Oriental

Front Elevation (East)

Cortes Generales
Corte Longitudinal Rear Elevation (West)

Zona de Terrazas

Vacío Interior

Cut Section Cut Section

10
 Urban 06. A River-border
Typology for Bogotá´s Typology
Academic Project: Final Thesis Project, University of Los Andes. Grade: 5/5. No Co-Owners
05.Academic River borders
Project: Final Thesis Project, University of Los Andes. Grade: 5/5. No Co-Owners
Academic Project: Final Thesis Project, University of Los Andes. Grade: 5/5. No Co-Owners
The city of Bogotá is located between mountains,
hence it has several rivers crossing the city
The city of Bogotá is located between mountains, hence it
The east
from city ofto Bogotá
west. Mostis located between mountains,
of Bogotá´s rivers are
has several rivers crossing the city from east to west. Most
hence
seen as itwounds
has several
among rivers crossing
the city, full the city
of trash
of Bogotá´s rivers are seen as wounds among the city, full
andfromof east to west.people.
homeless Most ofNevertheless,
Bogotá´s rivers there areis
of trash and of homeless people. Nevertheless, there is
seen as wounds
a tremendous opportunityamong of the city,
taking full of of
advantage trash
this
anda tremendous
of opportunity
homeless people.of taking advantage
Nevertheless, of this
there is
ecological richness
ecological richness and
and turn
turn therivers
the riversto to connecting
connecting
a tremendous opportunity of taking advantage of this
public pathways
public pathways in in
the
thecity´s urbandevelopment.
city´s urban development.
ecological richness and turn the rivers to connecting
public pathways in the city´s urban development.
For myFor myUniversity´s
University´s final project,
final project, I decided
I decided to findtoan find
an urban design and architectural typology that
Forurban
my design and architectural
University´s typology
final project, that
I decided couldtobefind
could be implemented
animplemented
urban in all ofand
design in
Bogotá´s all
riverofborders.
architectural Bogotá´s river
To showthat
typology
borders.
could To
be show
this typology, this typology,
I specifically
implemented all aI of
picked
in specifically
strategic picked
location:
Bogotá´s river
a borders.
strategic
a path To of location:
the River a
Fucha path
that of
has the
the River
potential
show this typology, I specifically picked Fucha
of
a connecting
that has alocation:
metropolitan
the potential
strategic of park, the
of future
connecting
a path metro
the a River line
metropolitan
Fucha
park, and
that thea main
has thehighway
future of theofcity,
metro
potential line asand
shownain the
connecting main
a 3D below.
highway
metropolitan
of park,
the city, as shown
the future metroinline
theand
3D abelow.
main highway
of the city, as shown in the 3D below. Photo of Current Situation.Taken from www.mapasbogota.com
Photo
PhotoofofCurrent
CurrentSituation. Taken
Situation. from
Taken www.mapasbogota.com
from www.mapasbogota.com

Photo of Current
PhotoSituation
of Current Situation

3D Graphic of Master Plan Proposal

3D Graphic of Master Plan Proposal

1011 10
The
Thedrawing below
drawing shows the
below typicalthe
shows image of the borders
typical image ofofthethe
riversborders
of Bogotá:oftwothe
or three storey
rivers of The
TheUrban
UrbanProposal
Proposalis regenerating the corner
is regenerating of the of
the corner blocks
the along
blocksthe river the
along to develop
river tomixed-use
develop
single family houses among deteriorated and insecure neighbourhoods that lack
Bogotá: two or three storey single family houses among deteriorated and insecure of public amenities and high density housing facing the water path. This way, with more people living
mixed-use high density housing facing the water path. This way, with more people and using theliving
river
green space.
neighbourhoods that lack of public amenities and green space. borders,
and usingthethe
cityriver
couldborders,
have newtheecological and public
city could have connecting pathways.
new ecological and public connecting
pathways.

Typical Cut
Typical Cut Section
Section

Current Elevation
Typical Elevation Proposed Cut
Proposed Cut Section
Section

Current Urban
Current Urban Form
Form Proposed Urban
Proposed Urban Plan
Plan

12
11
 Cut Section A-A
Cut Section A-AA-A
Cut Section

First Floor Plan

First
First Floor
Floor Plan
Plan

Detailed Cut Section 1

The process of the project was the following: first All buildings made on the corner of the river-front Detailed CutCut
Detailed Section
Section 1 1
The process ofofthetheproject was the was
following: first analysing an urban All buildingsmade
All buildings made ononthe the
river-front should
of have
thetheriver-front
The analysing
process an urban project
problem of the the following:
city, thenfirstfinding should have the followingcorner
five traits:
problem
analysing of the
an urban city, then finding an urban design proposalfindingsolves
that following
should have five
thetraits:
following five traits:
an urban design problem
proposal ofthatthesolves
city, the
thenproblem, and
the
an urban problem, and finally, developing an architectural project to show a
finally,design proposal
developing an that solves theproject
architectural problem,to and
show a 1. Have high-density housing facing the river.
correct typology to be implemented in various cases. 1. 1. Have high-density housing
Have facing the river.
finally, developing
correct typologyanto architectural
be implemented projectin to show cases.
various a 2. Behigh-density
a mixed-use housing facing
development the river.
2. 2.
Be Be a mixed-use development
correct typology to be implemented in various cases. 3. aHave
mixed-use development
the horizontal circulation as social spaces
By studying different typologies of architectural examples worldwide 3. 3.
HaveHave the horizontal
the horizontal circulation
circulationas social social
spaces spaces
By studying different typologies of architectural examples 4. Have a soft transition fromaspublic to private space
and taking different
the best traits of each one ofarchitectural
them, the theory of a building 4. 4.
HaveHave a soft
a soft transition
transitionfrom public to private space
By studying
worldwide typologies
and taking the ofbest traits of examples
each one of 5. Have flexible and from public housing
productive to private
unitsspace
typology and
worldwide was designed.
taking of thea best traitstypology
of each 5. 5. Have
Have flexible and
flexible andproductive
productive housing units units
housing
them, the theory building wasone of
designed.
them, the theory of a building typology was designed.

Detailed Cut Section 2

Detailed CutCut
Detailed
12
Section
Section
13
2 2

12
 Second Floor Plan Third Floor Plan
Second Floor Plan Third Floor Plan
The main purpose of the building´s design is giving homes for the current
inhabitants of purpose
The main the place,
of the promoting socialis giving
building´s design inclusion
homesand avoiding
for the current gentrification.
inhabitants of the
place, promoting social inclusion and avoiding gentrification.
Vulnerable communities are often grouped in “uncommon” family types. For
example, one communities
Vulnerable single home can grouped
are often have two different families,
in “uncommon” or For
family types. one familyonewith
example, single
two or three tenants. These way, the proposed housing modules have two
home can have two different families, or one family with two or three tenants. These way, the
important traits:
proposed housing modules have two important traits:

1. Housing units
1. Housing unitshave
have totobe flexible.
be flexible.
2. Housing units
2. Housing unitsare economically
are economically productive
productive

The The
housing
housingunits arethough
units are though socanthey
so they can suit
suit different familydifferent
types, withfamily types,
separated privatewith
zones.
separated private
All housing unitszones.
have oneAll housing
available spaceunits have
to adapt one different
for their available space
needs. to adapt
This space face the
for their different needs. This space face the communal areas, living the
communal areas, living the choice of having a home business, such as a tenant, a hair salon, achoice
of having
bakery,aetc...
home business, such as a tenant, a hair salon, a bakery, etc...

This thesis project

This thesis notnot
project only
onlygot
gotaa grade
grade ofof5/5,
5/5, but
but was
was alsoalso chosen
chosen by theby the teachers´
teachers´ Committee
Committee
to represent the Faculty of Architecture of Los Andes University in two recognizedinnational
to represent the Faculty of Architecture of Los Andes University two
recognized national competitions.
competitions.
Underground Parking Lots: 1 car per housing unit
Underground Parking Lots: 1 car per housing unit

13
14
 07. Affordable Housing, National Competition
Academic Project. Co-Owners: Convive X Student´s Team of University of Los Andes

“CONVIVE” is the name of a national competition of urban

design and architecture that takes place every year in Colombia.
The best universities of Colombia and of other Latin American
countries participate. I had the opportunity to work with the team
of students of the Architecture Faculty of The University of Los
Andes.

Location: Bogotá´s historic City Centre The aim of the competition was developing an Urban
Regeneration proposal for one of the most vulnerable and
insecure neighbourhoods of Bogotá. The proposal was presented
in different scales.

Urban Strategy: Making Courtyards

Public Facilities

Land for Public Transfer (5 has)

Local Streets (1.75 has)

Main Streets

Private Area

Master´s Plan Area (15.9 has)

Master Plan Flexible Housing Modules

Master Plan: Connecting Bogotá´s Strategic Places Project´s 3D Cut Section

15
This Urban Regeneration Proposal aims in providing new
opportunities to a community that currently live in precarious
conditions. For being located in a strategic area of Bogotá´s historic
centre, a mixed-use development was implemented.
The urban proposal not only includes high density flexible housing
and public amenities, but it also shows an innovative scheme for the
financial process of the regeneration process in order to guarantee
social inclusion.
3D View of the Project´s Interior
This proposal got the 4th place Mention of Honour out of 67
contestants, and then received the GOLDEN SCALE AWARD from
the university for having one of the best architectural projects of
the year 2015. It was also published in the annual magazine of the
faculty.
One block´s Plan; Flexible Housing Modules for different Family types
Project´s Cut Section
16