The Team
The Evolution of DisLocal: Integrated Frameworks & Global Governance (2020 – Present)
DisLocal was born from a necessity to bridge the gap between architectural theory and the urgent socio-political realities of the global periphery. Under the leadership of Executive Director María Beatriz (Mabe) García Rincón, the platform has evolved into a cross-sectional discipline that integrates social sciences, climate finance, and nature-based solutions into the built environment.
The Spark: Two Visions at Hansin
The foundation of DisLocal was laid during a defining afternoon at Hansin, a cultural heritage café in El Hatillo. It was here that María Beatriz and Marcos Coronel merged two distinct but complementary ambitions.
Marcos brought his "Thinking Outside the Box" series—a vision for a disruptive new school system that bypassed traditional academic rigidity. María Beatriz, drawing from seven years of urban analysis in El Calvario and her experience with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), sought to transform informal settlements. Her goal was clear: to upgrade urban fabric specifically so that women could achieve greater autonomy and a stronger political voice.
This meeting sparked a manifesto to amplify female voices and established the "live" feedback loop between grassroots activism and architectural innovation.
Leadership and the Pedagogical Legacy
The organization’s governance reflects this partnership. Since 2024, Marcos Coronel has served as Co-Director, leading the pedagogical expansion and ensuring the curriculum remains a "live" tool for real-world problem solving.
In its formative years, the team was supported by Khristian Ceballos, who assisted in operational and creative execution. The platform’s growth was further enriched by a consortium of innovators, including Daniel Otero, Ricardo Armas, Julio Kowolenko, Rafael Machado, Sara Valente, Marcelo Ertorteguy, and Antonio Salas.
Crucially, DisLocal honors the profound legacy of Dean Javier Caricatto (UCV), who joined in 2023. His leadership at the Universidad Central de Venezuela was instrumental in legitimizing our experimental model within the academic sphere; his wisdom remains a foundational part of our institutional memory.
Global Alliances and Blended Finance
As Executive Director, María Beatriz has pivoted the organization toward the future of climate governance. By creating strategic alliances, she has worked to unlock blended finance investments for community real estate improvements, offering city officials equity-aligned designs under the Paris Accord and UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Our global footprint is cemented through formal partnerships, including a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bjorn Bertelsen (GRIP, University of Bergen) and a joint negotiation with Universidad de Morón (Dean Alejandro Borrachia). In these alliances, Marcos has led the academic signing while Mabe developed the strategic framework to align architectural output with international development standards.
Today, this vision encompasses a learning community spanning France, Norway, Mexico, Argentina, Costa Rica, Colombia, Sweden, India, and Spain.