Located in Barranquilla, Colombia, at the meeting point between the Atlantic Ocean and the Magdalena River, the Ecoparque Ciénaga de Mallorquín redefines the relationship between city and nature through an environmental regeneration and public space intervention. Designed by DEB Architecture and El Equipo Mazzanti, the project transforms one of the most significant ecosystems of the Colombian Caribbean into an accessible landscape infrastructure that promotes conservation, environmental education, and civic engagement.

The Ciénaga de Mallorquín is one of the most important lagoon systems in the region. Its mangrove network and the presence of more than 200 resident and migratory bird species make it a site of high ecological and cultural value. However, territorial transformations over the last century—particularly those related to the construction of Bocas de Ceniza and other urbanization processes—altered its natural dynamics, generating environmental degradation and a progressive disconnection from the city.

In this context, the Ecoparque is conceived as a territorial infrastructure capable of mediating between urban expansion and ecological preservation. Rather than imposing a new form onto the landscape, the project establishes a “living edge”: an active band that protects the ecosystem while allowing public access through minimal intervention strategies.

Covering an area of 61,834 square meters, the project is developed through a network of elevated walkways, observation platforms, resting areas, and gathering spaces that allow visitors to experience the wetland without interfering with its biological and hydrological processes. This strategy reduces direct occupation of the territory and ensures the continuity of the natural cycles that sustain local biodiversity.

The elevated pathways offer new ways of experiencing the landscape and allow access to previously inaccessible areas, transforming the mangrove into a space for learning, contemplation, and environmental awareness. Observation platforms become key points for ecosystem interpretation, supporting scientific, educational, and recreational activities.

The project is organized through different districts that structure various forms of use and appropriation. In its first phase, two main areas are developed: the Contemplation District and the Family District. The first is focused on biodiversity observation and environmental education, while the second promotes recreational and social gathering activities, strengthening the relationship between the community and the landscape.

One of the key aspects of the project is the integration of existing local practices, particularly artisanal fishing, a traditional activity that forms part of the cultural identity of the wetland. The Ecoparque recognizes these dynamics and incorporates them into its spatial structure, promoting a balanced coexistence between conservation, community use, and local development.

Landscape strategies play a fundamental role in articulating the relationship between city and nature. Vegetation, public space, and ecological restoration actions operate as continuous elements that blur traditional boundaries between built environment and ecosystem, generating a gradual transition that enhances both urban experience and environmental resilience.

Rather than an architectural object, the Ecoparque Ciénaga de Mallorquín is conceived as an open, flexible, and constantly evolving system. Its goal is not only to restore a degraded ecosystem, but to propose a new way of understanding the relationship between cities and their natural environments, based on balance, respect, and coexistence.

By conceiving landscape as living infrastructure and public space as an active mediator between urban and ecological systems, the project establishes a replicable intervention model for vulnerable coastal territories. Its approach demonstrates how architecture, urbanism, and ecology can work together to regenerate strategic ecosystems while creating new opportunities for interaction, education, and civic appropriation.

The project has received major international recognitions, including the 2025 AIA International Honor Award for Urban Design, the 2025 AIA International Sustainable Future Award for Urban Design, the 2025 Dedalo Minosse OCCAM Under 40 Award, and the Architizer A+ Awards 2026 Winner, highlighting its contribution to new approaches in environmental regeneration and sustainable urban design.