Open to opportunities

Maria Palomares Samper

@mariapalomaressamper

Message

I design resilient urban spaces through participatory planning, landscape architecture, and systemic thinking.

Portugal

Message

What I'm looking for

I'm looking to collaborate on urban and public-space projects where participatory processes, systemic thinking, climate resilience, and cross-cultural design can create meaningful community outcomes.

I’ve led resilient landscape and public-space work at SCAPE Landscape Architecture, developing vision plans across Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts that impacted more than 65,000 acres.

I bring communities into the design process, leading bilingual workshops for populations ranging from 2,500 to 300,000 residents to build consensus around adaptive, climate-responsive futures.

At Bogotá Planning Department, I led historic-center master planning and public-space projects while defining regulatory strategies for heritage zones covering 1.3% of the city. Earlier, I oversaw the design, documentation, construction coordination, and site supervision of residential and mixed-use buildings in Bogotá.

I now collaborate remotely with institutions and design offices on international urban and public-space projects, bringing systemic thinking and participatory approaches to cross-cultural design processes. I also teach and support urban design education at Columbia GSAPP and Universidad de los Andes.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Design Consultant

Current

Remote

Jan 2023 - Present (3 years 7 months)

Collaborates with institutions and design offices internationally on urban and public space projects, bringing systemic thinking and participatory approaches to cross-cultural design processes.

Urban Design Systems Thinking

Teaching Associate

Columbia GSAPP

Jan 2023 - May 2023 (4 months)

Supported graduate-level urban design studios and guided students through complex design challenges and systemic frameworks.

Urban Design Teaching Systemic Framework

Professor

Universidad de los Andes

Oct 2022 - Oct 2022 (0 months)

Led a design drawing course that empowered students to master hand-drawing, digital tools and visual storytelling as core design skills.

Digital Tools Visual Storytelling

Senior Designer

SCAPE Landscape Architecture DPC

Sep 2019 - Jul 2022 (2 years 10 months)

Led bilingual public workshops for communities of 2,500–300,000 residents to build consensus for resilient design. Developed vision plans across CT, NY, and MA, impacting over 65,000 acres.

Landscape Architecture

Designer + Collaborator

Columbia University

Aug 2019 - Nov 2019 (3 months)

Created an online gallery of 100+ projects and contributed to the Urban Thinkers Campus event.

Design Event Coordination

Urban Design Assistant

NYC Mayor’s Action Plan for Neighborhood Safety

Oct 2018 - Mar 2019 (5 months)

Supported public space revitalization efforts in Bushwick through technical and conceptual assistance.

Urban Design Public Space Revitalization Technical assistance

Researcher

Hudson Initiative, GSAPP Columbia University

Dec 2018 - Feb 2019 (2 months)

Designed site recommendations for Oakdale Lake and participated in community design workshops and stakeholder engagement.

Research Site design Stakeholder Engagement

Urban Designer + Planner

Bogotá Planning Department

Sep 2016 - Apr 2018 (1 year 7 months)

Led historic center master plan development and public space projects. Defined regulatory strategies for Bogotá’s heritage zones (1.3% of city area).

Urban Design Planning master planning

Designer

Rafael López Uribe Architecture Firm

Apr 2015 - Jul 2016 (1 year 3 months)

Oversaw design and construction of two mid-rise residential/mixed-use buildings. Managed coordination and on-site supervision.

Architecture Design Construction Project Coordination Site Supervision

Project Manager

Cerros de los Alpes Housing Project

Nov 2014 - Apr 2015 (5 months)

Led design, construction documentation, and site supervision.

Project Management Design Construction Documentation Site Supervision

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

Columbia University

Master of Studies, Architecture and Urban Design

Activities and societies: Dean Scholarship recipient; Student representative, Class of 2019 MSAUD

Master of Studies in Architecture and Urban Design. Dean Scholarship recipient and student representative for the Class of 2019 MSAUD.

Universidad de los Andes

Bachelor's Degree, Architecture

Activities and societies: Exchange program with Universidad Autónoma de México; Teaching Assistant and Student Representative, Class of 2014

Bachelor's Degree in Architecture. Participated in an exchange program with Universidad Autónoma de México and served as a Teaching Assistant and Student Representative.