Hugo Colón is as an Associate Principal in Asakura Robinson’s Houston Studio. He has a passion towards inclusive design and working with local communities in addressing issues of equity in transportation, open space and stormwater management. His background in architecture and landscape architecture has allowed him to gain experience in multiple project types that range from streetscapes, green infrastructure, LIHTC projects, nature centers, trails and master planning.
Prior to joining Asakura Robinson, Hugo worked with Design Workshop in Houston, where he managed and designed multiple streetscape projects in the Houston area and an ecotourism center in the Rio Grande Valley. He feels a deep connection to the Rio Grande Valley where he had the opportunity to lead planning initiatives that addressed flooding and infrastructure needs of low income communities along the US-Mexican border through community driven design when he worked at buildingcommunityWORKSHOP. Both experiences have instilled a deep interest in developing collaborative design practices while achieving the highest standards in design.
He enjoys sharing the impact of his work and has recently spoken at the Texas Society of Architects, the LRGV Stormwater Management, and the Texas Trails and Active Transportation conferences.
Q&A
Where do you get your design inspiration from?
My inspiration comes mostly from the site, the community’s culture and the nature of the place. Each place is unique and can inform many aspects of the design and with this, we can develop an approach that is context sensitive and helps foster a sense of belonging.
If you could work on a project anywhere in the world where would it be?
I would love to work on a project in my hometown of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, connecting communities along its river and improving pedestrian and bike connections.
What project are you most proud of?
The Belden Trail in Brownsville, Texas is one of the built projects I feel more proud of because of its simple design and the great impact it has in the community.
