Juan Gonzalez

Colombian architect leading climate-resilient housing revolution in Latin America's informal settlements

Juan Gonzalez's Housing Revolution

Juan Gonzalez, a 37-year-old architect from Bogotá, has pioneered Adaptive Housing Units - earthquake-resistant, climate-resilient homes built from recycled materials. Since 2020, his nonprofit Build4Tomorrow has constructed over 2,500 homes in Colombia's informal settlements, providing dignified living conditions to displaced communities.

Innovative Design Principles

Gonzalez's modular designs incorporate disaster-resistant materials like eco-bricks (plastic bottle composites) and solar-integrated roofing systems. His 2023 collaboration with UN-Habitat expanded the model to Venezuela and Haiti, creating 10,000+ jobs in local construction sectors. The World Economic Forum recognized him as a 2024 Young Global Leader.

Social Impact

Data from 2024 shows 80% reduction in post-disaster displacement in communities using his housing solutions. Gonzalez's open-source construction manual, available in 8 languages via Build4Tomorrow.org, has been adopted by NGOs in 19 countries. His TEDx talk "Building Hope, Not Walls" has over 1.2 million views.