Laureano Forero Ochoa was born in Medellin, Colombia, in 1937. He studied architecture at the National University of Colombia from 1957, graduating with Honours in 1961. A scholarship then enabled him to pursue further training at the Polytechnic University of Milan, whilst also gaining experience within the practice of Gio Ponti. In 1965 Ochoa enrolled on the ‘Educational Building’ course run by the Architectural Association’s (AA) Department of Tropical Studies, in London. After successfully completing the course, Ochoa returned to Gio Ponti, in Milan, where he worked on a number of projects, including work in Baghdad, Iraq. Shortly afterwards he established his own practice, with his first major commission being the Faculty of Architecture, at the National University, Medellín (1971). Other important works followed, with his stunning chapel at the cemetery of Campos de Paz, in Medellin (1972) - the latter building, a masterpiece in concrete, forming a symbolic ‘stairway to heaven.’ Working on a larger scale, Nano’s Governmental Palace (Gobernacion de Risaralda), located in Pereira, Colombia, and completed in 1974, is a Brutalist landmark in the city. Highly respected, Ochoa’s practice developed throughout the 1980s and was awarded the National Architecture Award of Colombia (1983), going on to work on the Centro de Capacitacion Aranjuez, Medellin (1993) and the Parque de Bolivar (1998). His practice also embraced restoration work, and undertook the renovation of Rosario Central Station, Argentina, (together with Luis Grossman), completed in 2005. Later works include the celebrated Casa Betania (2011), again located in his home city of Medellin. He was granted the accolade of the Latin American Architecture Award in 2009.

 Sources

• Architectural Association Student Register, 1945-71. AA Archives
• Architectural Association Membership Register, 1969
• Ochoa, L.F., Moreno, B.G. ‘Forero: 50 años de arquitectura,’ Laureano Forero y Compañía, 2011
• Brea, A. de, ‘Total Latin American Architecture: Libretto of Modern Reflections & Contemporary Works,’ Actar B, 2016.