#  Towards a Radical Ecological Transition: Symposium and Design in Monterrey  

 





January 14, 2025

 

 

Amid the growing challenges posed by climate change, Monterrey is at a critical juncture to redefine its relationship with the environment. The torrential rains caused by Cyclones “Alberto” and “Beryl” in June 2024 exposed the city’s vulnerability, with rainfall equivalent to two years' worth accumulating in just two weeks. This scenario, combined with the impact of nearshoring and rapid urbanization, underscores the urgency of adopting innovative, climate-resilient solutions.

In this context, the symposium and \*design charrette **“A Radical Ecological Transition Towards Climate Resilience,”** held on September 30, 2024, emerged as a strategic forum for interdisciplinary and collaborative design. Using the Santa Catarina River as a case study, the event brought together leading experts from Harvard, the Tecnológico de Monterrey, and local and international leaders in urbanism, ecology, and public policy. Together, they explored how to transform the river basin into a model of environmental regeneration and climate resilience.

   ![Event photo](/sites/g/files/omnuum12451/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/2025-01/1.jpeg?itok=thdfdkHT) 

 

The symposium featured presentations from specialists such as Iñaki Echeverría, Liz Silver, Antonio Azuela, Nicholas Nelson, and Eduardo Marín, as well as panels moderated by experts such as Lorena Bello, Ruben Segovia, Rob Roggema, and Selene Martínez. The discussions broadened the scope beyond traditional infrastructure, highlighting strategies based on natural solutions, sustainable urbanization models, the linkage between air quality and water resilience, and resource conservation.

**Designing the Future from a Global Perspective**

Central to the symposium’s discussions was co-organizer Lorena Bello Gómez, PhD, Design Critic in Landscape Architecture at the Harvard GSD, whose expertise has shaped international climate adaptation projects. Bello’s presentation emphasized an urgent shift in how cities like Monterrey approach water management.

*“Water should not be seen as a threat but as an opportunity to regenerate ecosystems and transform cities into models of resilience,”* Bello said, drawing from her extensive work in Mexico, India, Colombia, and Armenia. Supported by DRCLAS and sponsored by Terra Habitus, a leading conservation non-profit based in Monterrey, her Aqua Incognita**: Designing for Extreme Climate Resilience in Monterrey** studio integrates landscape design with environmental justice, offering innovative alternatives to traditional engineering approaches.

In Monterrey’s context, Bello stressed the importance of reconnecting the city to its natural surroundings. *“In a city dominated by impermeable surfaces and car-centric urban planning, we must rethink water management. Instead of draining it, we need to give it space—allowing it to regenerate ecosystems, cool urban environments, and unify communities with their natural landscapes,”* she said.

DRCLAS played a pivotal role in facilitating Bello’s involvement, awarding her a Faculty Grant to support a fall 2024 workshop where Harvard students analyzed climate resilience strategies for Monterrey. The grant covered travel expenses, enabling students to engage directly with the region’s challenges. Their hands-on participation underscores DRCLAS’s mission to create transformative educational experiences that deepen Harvard’s engagement in Latin America.

   ![Event photo](/sites/g/files/omnuum12451/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/2025-01/4.jpeg?itok=TZUxMdjT) 

 

**Collaboration for Resilience**

The symposium, organized in collaboration with the Harvard Graduate School of Design, the Tecnológico de Monterrey, DRCLAS, Terra Habitus, and the FEMSA Foundation, reaffirmed these institutions’ commitment to sustainable development. Climate change, one of DRCLAS’s core thematic initiatives, underscores the center’s dedication to addressing urgent global challenges through research, education, and collaboration. By fostering interdisciplinary initiatives and supporting field-based learning opportunities, DRCLAS continues to bridge academic expertise with real-world solutions. The event was also proudly sponsored by Terra Habitus, a renowned conservation non-profit based in the Monterrey Metropolitan Area.

*“Interdisciplinary work is essential in addressing climate change,”* Bello emphasized. *“Initiatives like this symposium represent a collective effort to imagine a future where cities adapt and thrive by sustainably connecting communities with their territories and natural resources.”*

Through events like this, DRCLAS reinforces its mission to promote dialogue and innovation across Latin America, demonstrating that the most urgent and transformative solutions emerge from collaboration between academic institutions, community leaders, and international partners.

   ![Event photo](/sites/g/files/omnuum12451/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/2025-01/5.jpeg?itok=uF_Ma_-3) 

 

\*Charrette is a French term referring to an intensive collaborative design process, where professionals from various disciplines come together to generate solutions in a short timeframe. This process fosters active participation and the exchange of ideas among all involved, enabling the creative and effective tackling of complex issues, as demonstrated in this event.



 

 

 



 

 See also:- [ Cambridge ](/locations/cambridge-office)
- [ Mexico ](/locations/mexico)
- [ Mexico ](/programs-initiatives/mexico)
 
 

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