Diana Balmori (1932-2016) She was born in 1932 in Gijón, Spain and emigrated to Argentina as a child, where she graduated from the University of Tucumán in 1952. She received a Ph.D. in Urban History from the University of Califorinia at Los Angeles in 1973 and graduated from the Radcliffe College Landscape Program in 1989. After working with her husband César Pelli for many years she founded her own firm, Balmori Associates in 1990.
Her urban design practice designs sustainable infrastructures that serve as an interface between landscape and architecture. In 2006, she created BAL/LABs within Balmori Associates, to further push the boundaries of architecture, art and engineering: Green Roofs, Floating Islands, Temporary Landscapes, Forms of Representation, and Zero Waste City, among others.
Diana had an active voice in national policy and decision-making on topics that relate to landscape design, architecture and urban planning. She served as: member of The United States Commission of Fine Arts in Washington, DC; a Senior Fellow of Dumbarton Oaks, Washington, DC; a member of the Allston Development Group at Harvard University, Boston, MA; on the Board of The Van Alen Institute, New York City; The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation for the World Trade Center Site, New York City; and as a Committee Member for the Comprehensive Design Plan for the White House.
Some of her most notable work includes, NTT Shinjuku Headquarters Building. Tokyo, Japan. 1995 Abandoibarra Masterplan. Bilbao, Spain. 2012. Euskadi Square. Bilbao, Spain. 2012. New Government City. Sejong, South Korea. 2007-2014. Beale Street Landing. Memphis, USA. 2015 São Paulo Corporate Towers. São Paulo, Brazil. 2017
She wrote numerous publications on the topic of Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning and public spaces. Some of them are Redesigning the American Lawn: A Search for Environmental Harmony (co-author). Yale University Press, 1993. Transitory Gardens, Uprooted Lives (co-author). Yale University Press, 1993. Land and Natural Development (LAND) Code: Guidelines for Sustainable Land Development (co-author). Wiley, 2007. Groundwork: Between Landscape and Architecture (co-author). The Monacelli Press, 2011. A Landscape Manifesto. Yale University Press, 2010.
She has received various awards for her work, including Best Project, Special Award “Citta d’Aqua”, Biennale di Venezia, 2004. Fifth European Urban and Regional Planning Award, European Council of Town Planners, 2004. Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, Award of Excellence, 2004. Award of Excellence AIA New York State, 2009. Highest Honor Award for Sustainability Leadership, The Institute of Green Professionals (IGP), 2009.
She died in 2016 in New York City.
