About me

Profile Michelle Cabrera Otero

I am an architect graduated from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia, from a program internationally validated as RIBA Part 2. I am currently a Master of Architecture candidate at North Carolina State University, a NAAB‑accredited program. My five‑year undergraduate education (2019–2024) unfolded in Bogotá, a complex urban territory that I approached as a living laboratory to understand socio‑spatial segregation, public space, housing, and urban revitalization. These experiences shaped a holistic design approach that integrates city design, community‑centered thinking, and sustainable strategies to create architecture that responds to ecological, social, and spatial realities.

I understand architecture as a discipline that integrates aesthetics, functionality, and social impact in the way we inhabit space. Studying in one of the most complex megacities in Latin America allowed me to work directly on real urban issues and strengthened my holistic approach to design. Through field‑based projects and an iterative design process, I developed the ability to integrate urban, environmental, technical, and social dimensions, an approach rooted in city design and sustainability. My work also includes material experimentation and prototyping, exploring solutions in concrete, wood, and glass, with a focus on balancing structural rigor, spatial quality, and environmental performance. I remain constantly open to exploring new possibilities within architecture, embracing experimentation as a way to expand both my practice and my understanding of the built environment.

Location: Raleigh, North Carolina

Academic Qualifications

Master of Architecture North Carolina State University — College of Design. 2025 - 2027 (Expected May 2027).
Bachelor of Architecture (RIBA - Part 2 Validated Degree) Pontificia Universidad Javeriana — Faculty of Architecture and Design 2019 – 2024 GPA: 3.8/4.0

Scholarships & Fellowships

Colfuturo Scholarship Recipient, Colombia
Paul & Holly Tesar Graduate Award – Graduate Scholarship (NC State College of Design, 2025–2026)

Awards & Competitions

AIAT Women in Architecture Scholarship Recipient, North Carolina, 2025
Second Place, Concrete Photography Competition, Universidad del Norte, Colombia

Memberships

Member, AIA Triangle
Member, American Concrete Institute (ACI- U. Javeriana)

Awards and Memberships

I have developed experience in real-world contexts, both professionally and socially:

Junior Architect

S.O.S Corporation Tierra, Colombia — May 2025 – July 2025

Directed and supported tactical urbanism and public space projects.
Coordinated surveys and volunteers to develop community-based proposals (sports courts, murals).
Produced renders, drawings, and design proposals while conducting urban analyses and territorial assessments.
Provided technical supervision during project implementation and engaged in community co‑creation processes.
Key Projects and Achievements:
Led construction and community teams to finalize basketball courts using tactical urbanism strategies.
Designed and detailed a new façade proposal for a historic building in Barranquilla.
Coordinated design and guided teams in developing urban art murals in underdeveloped communities in Bogotá.
Contributed to activation of public spaces in Bogotá through participatory design.

Architectural Intern

AGRA Arquitectos, Colombia — 2023

Developed and post-produced plans and photographic material for ArchDaily.
Conducted cost calculation, budget analysis, and evaluated architectural proposals.
Implemented evaluation of housing projects and executed design conceptualization for architectural contests.
Key Projects and Achievements:
Led architectural photography and post-production of built projects to be featured in international digital platforms like ArchDaily.
Detailed and refined existing construction plans to meet high-quality graphic standards for official firm publications and architectural journals.
Managed the graphic conceptualization and digital editing of architectural portfolios used for high-level competitions and project pitching in Colombia.

Urban & Academic Projects

Atlas Carvajal Urban Centers, Bogotá . Field-based project. Developed urban studies and analysis of critical urban areas. Conducted field surveys to support territorial diagnostics and planning strategies.
Saint‑Gobain Architecture Student Contest, Lisboa, Field-based project- Academic proposal, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana.
Thesis Author: Spaces for Voices of Hope. Field-based project. Inclusive urban corridor project integrating peacebuilding and circular economy strategies.
Material Research Project. Experimentation with concrete, wood, and glass for sustainable alternatives.

Teaching Assistantship

Class of Building networks and facilities, Javeriana University. February 2020 – June 2020

Volunteer

TECHO para mi país. International NGO, Colombia — 2024–2025

Designed and implemented surveys for social diagnostics.
Identified beneficiaries for emergency housing.
Organized community meetings in Piedras Blancas and Cerezos, Soacha, Colombia.

Experience

I have developed experience in real-world contexts, both professionally and socially:

I have participated in academic projects with international scope, including the development of proposals for the Saint-Gobain Architecture Student Contest, Lisbon, Portugal, as part of a studio project at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia.

I am the author of the thesis “Spaces for Voices of Hope”, an inclusive urban corridor project focused on peace-building and circular economy strategies, exploring the role of architecture in processes of social reconstruction.

My work has also involved applied research in materiality, including the development of projects using sustainable alternatives and technical approaches to concrete, wood, and glass.

Research and Projects

Skills

I bring a critical, flexible, and proactive mindset, with strengths in teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, and effective communication. I am able to work in complex contexts, integrating technical, social, and environmental variables, and managing design processes through a collaborative approach.

Design & Visualization Tools

AutoCAD, Revit, Rhino, Grasshopper, ArchiCAD, SketchUp
Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign), Lightroom
Twinmotion, D5 Render
ArcGIS (Spatial Analysis and Urban Mapping)
2D/3D representation: conceptual diagrams, technical drawings, renderings
Videoediting Filmora.
Manual Representation and Fabrication
Freehand architectural drawing and sketching
Hand drafting and artistic drawing.
Physical model making and material prototyping
Architectural and urban photography

Soft Skills

Organization and time management, with strong attention to detail in design and execution and a proactive problem‑solving mindset.
Multicultural communication and collaboration, supported by effective bilingual communication (oral and written) and adaptability within collaborative environments.
Willingness to explore architecture, design, and urbanism through innovative approaches.

Research and Project Development

Spatial Analysis and Territorial Strategies. Urban and territorial diagnostics; sustainable and resilient spatial approaches; public realm and housing interventions.
Human‑Centered and Contextual Research. Participatory methodologies; environmental and cultural analysis; architectural inquiry grounded in place.
Languages
Spanish: Native
English: Advanced fluency (C1)
Italian: Basic (A1)

Interests

Architectural and Spatial Design