Gillespies appointed to design a new public realm for ATRIO, a mixed-use development in Bogotà

Gillespies has been chosen to design a series of unique plazas and landscapes as part of 'ATRIO', a signature mixed-use commercial development in central Bogota, in the company's first foray into Latin America. The project comprises of two towers that are united by a large publicly accessible open space at street level.

Located next to the junction of Avenida el Dorado and Avenida Caracas in the Colombian capital, the two towers - north and south - provide more than 250,000 square meters of construction space, alongside 10,000 square metres of public space.

Working alongside lead architects Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners and Colombian based architects El Equipo Mazzanti, Gillespies' designs for the emerging public realm - a space occupying two-thirds of the site's footprint - will provide a new cultural landmark destination in the heart of the city. The proposal seeks to deliver a series of urban plazas, streetscapes and gardens that will encourage pedestrian movement through the site to the city centre, and offer spaces for programmed activities and an active arts programme. The scheme will incite new business and tourism to the city's former business district, demonstrating the potential for further development in the area known as Centro Internacional.

The first phase - the north tower - will be completed in 2019.