Díaz Paunetto Arquitectos wins top prize at CAAPPR Architecture Biennial
The College of Architects and Landscape Architects of Puerto Rico (CAAPPR, in Spanish) announced the winners of the XVIII Bienal de Arquitectura y Arquitectura Paisajista de Puerto Rico 2025 during a ceremony held as part of its 47th Convention in Fajardo.
Leading the honors was Díaz Paunetto Arquitectos, recipient of the 2025 National Architecture Award for the renewal of the “Edificio de las Artes Médicas” in Puerta de Tierra. According to the jury, the project achieved “a successful intervention, preservation and renovation, both physical and programmatic, of this historic structure.”
The jury highlighted that the intervention “transforms the Edificio de las Artes Médicas into a contemporary and vibrant space, while maintaining its cultural and architectural relevance.”
The award, open to CAAPPR-licensed architects under the “Built Work” category, recognizes projects with significant impact on Puerto Rican society. Outgoing CAAPPR President Alexandra Betancourt said the Biennial “seeks to highlight and recognize outstanding projects of research and design carried out over the last eight years” by both local and internationally qualified professionals.
In the same category, architect Nataniel Fuster was awarded for “Casa Froh,” described by the jury as a “complex and subtle design” focused on the architectural journey. A special mention went to landscape architect Edmundo Colón-Izquierdo for the “Jardín Mirador Cuartel de Ballajá,” which demonstrated “a deep understanding of the project’s ecological and technical challenges.”
In the “Unbuilt Work” category, the winning entry was “El Corral” by Adorno Arquitectos + KOSY Collective, noted for integrating research, residential, and public service functions. Two mentions were awarded: one for the “Guayama Convention Center Catalino ‘Tite’ Curet Alonso,” by Architectural Studio, and another for “Prototipo vivienda unifamiliar en el Delta Tigre” by architect Oscar Vázquez.
In the “Research and Publication” category, the top prize went to architect Edwin Quiles for his book “Mi amor, tenemos casa: una épica del arrabal,” which explores the untold history of Santurce’s urban development. The jury praised the work for “elevating the voices of residents in the slums” and for its “poetic language.”
Honorable mentions in this category included “SITIOS, a spatial study of Puerto Rico’s Modernization” by architect Robin Planas Casada, for its contribution to heritage preservation and accessibility, and “Purdy & Henderson en Cuba; Una Revolución de diseño y construcción” by Dr. Beatriz Del Cueto, for uncovering a lesser-known chapter in Cuban architectural history.
