Cazú Zegers has a different angle of approach towards architecture, in an expressive search, closely related to Latin America, its territory, landscape and traditions. From here arises a work “in progress” that involves a poetic reflection on the way we inhabit the territory.
The thesis that inspires her work is to build in a “light and precarious way”, referring to a lo-tek architecture but with a high experiential impact; understanding that the greatest value of Chile and Latin America is in its territory: “The territory is to America what monuments are to Europe,” says Cazú.
Architect graduate from the Universidad de Chile. Diploma in Design and Production of Temporary Architectures from the same study house. She has been collaborating as an architect since 2021 for Cazu Zegers Architecture with special interest in architectural projects in thechnified timber and sustainability. At the same time she has carried out research on contemporary Chilean architecture, is an assistant at the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Chile and carries out architectural projects independently. She has a keen interest in photography and performing arts.
Architect graduate from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso with a Diploma in BIM from the Universidad Católica de Santiago. She has been collaborating as an architect since 2020 for Cazu Zegers Architecture with a special interest in contemporary architecture projects involving engineered wood and earth, sustainability, and the development of research related to ethnoarchitecture.
She has also independently engaged in social volunteer projects in Chile and has a keen interest in the arts, outdoor sports, and ecology.
Architect (PUC) with ten years of experience in various areas and scales of architecture: from residential interior design and for large hotel chains such as Hyatt and Conrad, as well as designing children’s gardens, showrooms, single-family homes and large buildings for projects in countries such as Chile, USA, Germany and China. She has been collaborating at Cazú Zegers Arquitectura since 2020 as an Architect and recently as Studio Coordinator, with a great concern for details and seeking high work efficiency.
Designer from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile with a Master’s Degree in Acting for the Chamber at RCSSD at the University of London. Founder of Clara Films who has worked as an audiovisual producer and strategic communications advisor since 2016.
Cultural agent and Art Historian. Master in Advanced Studies in Art History from the University of Barcelona and Bachelor of Visual Arts from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. She has worked as artistic director of the Ekho Gallery between 2015-2017 and as Assistant to the Registration and Logistics Department of the Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona (MACBA) in 2018, supporting exhibitions with renowned artists and international collections. Since 2020, she has been in charge of communications and content for Cazú Zegers Arquitectura, supporting the investigative, narrative and visualization aspects of the architect’s work. She has worked independently as curator, artistic research and taught classes on art sociology and art history.
Architect (PUCV) founder and director of the Cazú Zegers Studio. In 2019 she was included in ELLE Decor’s prestigious Architecture A-List and a year later, she was recognized as one of the Latin American architects breaking down barriers by Forbes Magazine.
Ambassador of Marca Chile, founder of the Lastarria Observatory, today Fundación +1000 and co-creator of the collaborative and educational platform Andes Workshop, together with Grupo Talca. Zegers has also served as Visiting Professor at YSoA (Yale School of Architecture) and is a prominent international speaker in various subjects.
Zegers and his architectural practice have a solid social and sustainable approach, with a strong roots in place, its processes and local materials, especially with wood. Their projects cover a wide range of multidisciplinary research, moving through different scales, from territory to object and from object to territory, in a creative process that is born from geopoetry.
Her works have been awarded various awards, such as the Grand Prix of Versailles, the National Geographic Unique Lodge of the World Award and the Latin American Architecture Grand Prix (1993), among others. She has also been a finalist for the ArcVisión award (2016) and in 2021 it was awarded for innovation in architecture by receiving the Dora Riedel Distinction.
During 2022 she was a finalist for the National Architecture Prize, along with Smiljan Radic and Fernando Pérez Oyarzún. In 2023 her team won the architectural contest to build the new ICRC Garden Memorial in Geneva. Today she leads as an expert in ethnoarchitecture and ethnoengineering in Latin America.
María del Carmen Zegers (Cazú) is born in Santiago de Chile.
Enters the school of Architecture at PUCV
During these three year Cazú Zegers makes three motorcycle trips throughout Chile. Here she experienced a vernacular Chile for the first time and incorporates the importance of not demystifying our territory.
She began her exercise of the profession and founded her office Cazú Zegers Architecture. The same year her daughter Clara was born.
Initiates a project named Kawelluco, inaugurating for the first time a new way of inhabiting in relation to natural landscape, something she will refer to as ruralization.
Designs and builds Hotel Tierra Patagonia, one of her most iconic works.
Invited to present at the Mundaneum “Women Architects and Artists” in Mendoza. For the first time, she begins to present her architecture in relation to the sounds of each territory. Here “Soundscape” is born, small videos that incorporate poetry, sound and watercolors by Zegers made when visiting the territory.
Re-found the Lastarrias Observatory in the +1000 Foundation – https://www.fundacionmasmil.cl/
This same year, she is invited as a speaker for the Architecture Symposium “Poetic Territory”, Perth, Australia.
Recognized on Elle Decor NY magazine’s A-List as one of the 18 best living architects in the world. The 5 most outstanding female architects in Latin America by ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST México. Speaker for Mundaneum Mendoza “Mondo Nostro”. Here is where her manifesto for the 21st century appears.
Finalist for the National Architecture Prize along with Smiljan Radic and the winner Fernando Pérez Oyarzún.
Invited to present at AIA Virginia’s Design Forum – South is Up! Virginia, USA that sought to demonstrate Latin American innovation in architecture.
