Oscar Zamora is a Nicaraguan architect whose work spans research, design, and pedagogy, with a focus on ecological and social resilience in Latin America. From 2014 to 2019, he co-led Valenzuela+Zamora, gaining international acclaim with projects like Folded Villa, awarded the CEMEX Regional Award. In 2017, Domus named him among Nicaragua’s top emerging architects. He has collaborated with the Inter-American Development Bank and contributed to projects on water, food, and urban futures in Colombia and the Amazon. Zamora holds a Master in Architecture with distinction from Harvard GSD and has been featured in Domus, L’Architecture d’Aujourd’hui, and at international exhibitions such as the Biennale d’architecture et de paysage d’Île-de-France.

Michael Koliner integrates art and architecture, focusing on community and functional design. His public art, like the “Nonuments” Exhibition, involves the community in creating functional pieces from natural materials (e.g., cob seating) and addressing architectural challenges. His research with Georgia Tech and Kansas State University resulted in the first large-scale pneumatic tensegrity structure, exploring lightweight inflatable systems. As a designer, Koliner uses tactile materials and dynamic forms to create new relationships with the built world.