Mexico City-based landscape architect Mario Schjetnan and his firm, Grupo de Diseño Urbano (GDU), have been awarded the 2025 Cornelia Hahn Oberlander International Landscape Architecture Prize. Organized by The Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF), the biennial prize honors landscape architects who excel at the intersection of design, social engagement, and environmental justice.
A Legacy of Visionary Design
Schjetnan and GDU were chosen from over 300 nominations by an international jury for their exceptionally creative and courageous work. The award includes $100,000 and two years of public engagement activities to increase visibility for their practice and the broader field of landscape architecture.
Schjetnan earned his architecture degree from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in 1968, followed by a Master of Landscape Architecture from UC Berkeley in 1970. Before founding GDU in 1977, he led urban and housing design at INFONAVIT, contributing to the creation of over 100,000 homes across 110 cities in Mexico.
Projects That Blend Ethics and Aesthetics
Under Schjetnan’s leadership, GDU has developed a diverse portfolio spanning Mexico, Latin America, the U.S., China, and the Middle East, including parks, post-industrial site rehabilitations, museums, and residential projects. Notable works include:
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Chapultepec Forest and Park, Mexico City
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Xochimilco Ecological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
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San Pedro Creek Culture Park, San Antonio, Texas
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Cornerstone Festival of Gardens, Sonoma, California
Their projects focus on water sustainability, repurposing post-industrial sites, and improving urban and natural public spaces, reflecting Schjetnan’s belief that access to nature is a fundamental human right.
Recognition for Social and Environmental Impact
“In a time of rapidly developing megacities, Grupo de Diseño Urbano is a strong voice for social engagement and environmental justice in tandem with the art of landscape architecture,” said the Oberlander Prize jury. “Their built work delivers tangible impact and models public landscapes as essential urban infrastructure.”
Schjetnan’s lifetime of innovation continues to shape how cities can merge ecological responsibility with human-centered design, reinforcing the role of landscape architecture as both an ethical and aesthetic practice.
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