Mar

A Personal Reflection on Leadership

Paola Moya
Chief Creative Officer + CEO

March 2026

Spanish version here

For me, leadership has always been grounded in responsibility

Working as an architect at the intersection of design and urban development, I’ve come to see leadership as a long-term commitment to the environments we shape and the people who experience them. The built environment carries consequences that extend far beyond the moment a project is delivered. It influences how people live, what opportunities are available to them, and how communities evolve over time.

My experience as an immigrant, an architect, and the founder of MOYA has been shaped by navigating different contexts, cultures, and systems. That has given me a particular perspective on the role design plays. It is a tool that can open access, support equity, and create meaningful improvements in quality of life when it is approached with intention.

That sense of responsibility also defines how I think about leadership in architecture. It requires clarity, especially when decisions impact communities that are not always represented in the room. It requires awareness, understanding that every choice carries social, cultural, and environmental implications. And it requires consistency, staying aligned with purpose while navigating complexity.

At MOYA, this translates into how we work every day. Design becomes a tool to shape communities. Development becomes a way to create access. Architecture becomes a long-term commitment to the people it serves.

Listening to the Industry – A Month of Dialogue

Over the past month, that perspective has been reinforced through a series of conversations across the industry.

This month, I had the opportunity to participate in the 2026 Housing Opportunity Conference, the ULI Carolinas Meeting, and the NEWH Leadership Conference. Across these conversations, one thing became clear:

The challenges we are facing are shared.

Housing continues to sit at the center of the conversation. Urban growth is reshaping demand, and affordability remains critical to long-term stability.

At the same time, the path forward is not isolated within any single discipline. It depends on coordination between public agencies, private developers, designers, and communities working with shared intent.

Design is also being understood with more depth. It shapes how places function, how they are experienced, and how they perform over time. Alongside that, technology and data are becoming more integrated into decision-making, allowing teams to respond with greater precision and adaptability.

Signals Shaping the Future of Cities

These conversations point to a broader shift. Housing is being approached as essential infrastructure, tied to economic stability, public health, and social cohesion. Development is evolving through partnerships that require alignment across sectors. Design is becoming a defining factor in how cities position themselves, how they attract talent, and how they sustain growth.

This is where leadership becomes operational.

At MOYA, leadership is embedded in how we think about design. Architecture is not isolated from the systems around it. It operates as a framework for human experience, shaping how people interact, connect, and move through space.

Our work is guided by a set of principles: well-being, cultural identity, sustainability, and user experience. These are not abstract ideas. They inform decisions that shape outcomes over time.

Architecture must go beyond responding to market demands. It must anticipate human needs. This requires a deeper understanding of context, culture, and behavior.

Leadership Through Design

Leadership is also evolving.

More women are actively participating in defining how cities grow, how communities are designed, and how resources are allocated.

This shift matters.

It expands how problems are understood. It influences how decisions are made. It strengthens how outcomes are delivered.

As a woman leading a practice in this field, this is something I experience directly. At MOYA, it is reflected in our team and in our work. A range of voices across design, strategy, and execution informs how we approach every project.

The future of cities will be defined not by individual leaders, but by collective transformation.

We are in a moment that requires clarity.

Leadership today requires openness, listening, learning, and staying responsive to the realities shaping our cities.

The future of the built environment will depend on how well we align purpose with action, how we collaborate across disciplines, and how intentionally we approach the work.

The environments we design today will shape how people live for generations.

That is the responsibility.

READ MORE HERE

Day 1 at ULI Baltimore: Housing, Infrastructure, and the Urgency to Build More – click here to read full article >

Colombia 2026: A Market in Transition and What That Means for How We Build – click here to read full article >

What a 7-Acre Park in Cary Teaches Us About the Future of Development in the Carolinas– click here to read full article >

Mar

Luxury is not ostentatious

Luxury is not ostentatious; we seek to create the capacity to generate lasting value

Spanish version here

Paola Moya, CEO of Moya Desing Partners, talks about the boutique hotel they are building in Medellín and the possibility of new investments .

Carlos Jaramillo Palace – Journalist

Paola Moya, one of the most influential Latin architects in the US, never lost her idea to invest in Colombia. Long after he was gone and with his firm, Moya Design Partners, more than consolidated, entered his country to build, for now in Medellín, Calya Provenza, a boutique hotel of 1,184 m2 and seven suites that will open this year. Her firm is responsible for more than 80 developments in the US, including the renovation of the Howard Theatre and the University of the District of Columbia student center. We talked to her.

After decades of working in Washington, D.C., what motivated you to develop your first hotel project in Medellín?

Returning was not a geographical move, it was an emotional and strategic decision. The pandemic led us to rethink where and how we wanted to live, prioritizing quality of life, connection with nature and more human urban environments. In this reflection, Colombia, and particularly Medellín, stood out clearly for its temperate climate, its evolving urban infrastructure, its biodiversity, and the creative energy that now defines the city.

Initially I invested in a residence, but by understanding more deeply the cultural and economic dynamism of Medellín, a greater conviction emerged: not only to inhabit the territory, but to actively participate in its development. After more than two decades of leading projects in Washington, D.C., I felt it was time to bring that international expertise, technical rigor, and execution discipline to Colombia. Calya was born, precisely, as a bridge between two worlds: the structure and requirement learned in America and the cultural sensitivity that has always been part of my identity.

Why invest in Colombia?

Colombia is now one of the most attractive destinations in Latin America for strategic investment. It is the second most biodiverse country in the world and has a natural and cultural wealth that drives sectors such as tourism, hospitality, and the creative economy. In recent years it has recorded record numbers of international visitors and growing foreign investment in trade, hospitality and real estate development. Its geographical location and air connectivity strengthen a competitive environment for high value-added projects.

For me, investing in Colombia means returning home with purpose. After decades in a highly competitive market like the US, I felt a responsibility to provide not just capital, but also structure, technical discipline, and international standards. It combines business vision with country commitment: generating financial return while raising standards of urban design and development.

In terms of figures, how is your firm Moya Design Partners doing?

Moya Design Partners has maintained sustained, strategic and disciplined growth. We currently have a projected portfolio of $15-20 million over the next four to five years, supported by a strong corporate structure and long-term vision.

A key component of our evolution has been the comprehensive diversification of services: from urban planning and masterplanning to architecture, interior design, graphic design, environmental branding and spatial narrative. We operate in multiple sectors: multi-family, civic, educational, sports and hospitality, which allows us to transfer knowledge between typologies and enrich each project with a transversal perspective. Last year we launched Moya Development, our real estate development division, where Calya is one of the flagship projects; and this year we introduced Moya Living, a platform focused on art, lighting and product design. This expansion is not just growth, it’s the consolidation of a creative ecosystem that integrates concept, design and execution under one strategic vision.

How many people work at the firm?

We have approximately 30 professionals including architects, interior designers, graphic designers, creative strategists, researchers, filmmakers, writers and administrative staff. We operate under an interdisciplinary model that covers the entire project cycle: market research, business development, proposal structuring, conceptual design, technical execution and final delivery.

We are a technology-intensive firm. We use advanced tools for BIM modeling, visualization, data analysis and digital project management, and have been pioneers in the adoption of artificial intelligence to enhance our creative capabilities, optimize processes and raise standards of accuracy and quality. Technology is a central part of our operational and creative strategy; it is an engine that amplifies the team’s talent and allows us to deliver more sophisticated, efficient and competitive solutions.

How do you define luxury in your projects?

For Moya Design Partners, luxury is not ostentatious. We seek to generate the ability to create value that will last. It is the convergence between strategy, identity and conscious design. In our projects, from urban developments to residential proposals such as Calya, luxury is expressed both in what remains over time, and in what is seen and experienced: the rigorous selection of materials, the interior atmosphere, the relationship with the external context and every detail that builds character. More than a symbol of excess, we understand luxury as an authentic experience, where every surface and every design decision brings coherence, sophistication and meaning.

What international apprenticeships did you apply to Calya Provenza?

With nearly 25 years of experience, I have learned that design evolves with discipline and method. In large-scale projects in the US, I developed multidisciplinary coordination, budget control, rigorous timelines, and multi-stakeholder management capabilities. This structure ensures that creativity has technical backing and operational feasibility.

In Calya we apply these principles together with our internal process, Moya Lab, an initial phase of deep historical and cultural research of the place: territory, urban context, community and user behavior. We didn’t start by drawing; we started by understanding who and why we design. From there we extract the conceptual DNA that guides architecture, interiors and brand. With this comprehensive vision we think about every detail: from the navigation of the website and arrival at the building to the experience in each interior space.

This is the design and that’s how Calya Provence will be.

What was the inspiration for integrating nature and architecture?

Medellín, known as the city of eternal spring, demands a permeable and sensory architecture. Its temperate climate, mountainous topography and green intensity of the landscape invite to dilute the boundaries between interior and exterior. Before designing, we carried out a deep analysis of its geography, culture and urban evolution to understand how the project had to dialogue with the environment, not impose itself on it.

The organic forms of the building, inspired by leaves, petals and the subtle movement of trees, emerge from that study. In the interior we pay homage to the orchid as a national symbol: the lower levels adopt deeper tones that evoke roots and roots, while the higher ones become progressively clearer, alluding to the lightness and openness of the petals. The result is a spatial narrative that translates nature, identity and transformation into architecture.

The design is inspired by the orchid. How does it preserve local DNA?

The orchid, Colombia’s national flower, symbolizes resilience, diversity and a sophistication born of nature. In the project, its presence is not literal but conceptual: it translates into enveloping curves, overlapping layers, smooth transitions and a composition that suggests organic growth and structural delicateness. The architecture and interiors evoke that natural evolution, from root to petal, generating a coherent spatial narrative.

Preserving the local DNA means interpreting the Colombian identity with depth and rigor, integrating materials, talent and cultural sensitivity from a contemporary perspective. It is an authentic expression of the place, elevated to international design standards.

What experience does Calya seek to offer?

Calya is conceived as an urban sanctuary. Amidst the intensity of Provence, it offers serenity, privacy and a carefully orchestrated experience. The suites function as micro-residences designed for short or long stays, with a spatial logic that combines hotel sophistication and domestic comfort. We aspire to compete with the best international products in hospitality, offering a deeply local proposal in identity and character, executed with global quality standards.

We want the guest to feel truly at home. That he can move his daily rituals into space: cooking, working, resting, practicing wellness or receiving guests. Natural balanced light, controlled acoustics, tactile materiality and functional distribution are designed to accompany this experience. Calya not only hosts; it welcomes and elevates the way a city is temporarily inhabited.

What role does architecture play in the luxury experience?

Architecture directly influences human behavior and the nervous system. Studies in neuroarchitecture show that proportion, scale, natural light and materiality affect stress levels, sense of security and sense of well-being. Lighting regulates circadian rhythms, organic textures generate calm and controlled acoustics promote rest. In hospitality, these elements form the basis of experience.

In contemporary luxury, the experience begins in how space receives and guides the user. Intuitive circulation and harmonious transitions create emotional coherence. When the design is thought through, it reduces friction and conveys a clear sense of care. Architecture thus becomes a tool of wellbeing and sophistication.

Moya has been awarded Power 100 Playmaker, 40 Under 40 and Minority Business Leader of the Year.

What other developments do you plan in Colombia?

We are currently focused on the flawless execution of Calya, ensuring that every detail meets the standards we have set. In parallel, we evaluate new opportunities in boutique hospitality and high value-added residential developments, where we can integrate design, brand and strategy from the conception of the project. We are also interested in participating in educational, civic, and social-impact initiatives that bring tangible value to communities. We believe in strategic and selective growth, focused on projects that build heritage and raise the quality of the urban environment in Colombia.

Is this the beginning of a structured presence in Colombia?

No doubt. Colombia is at the heart of our long-term strategic vision. This is not a one-off incursion, but to consolidate a coherent and sustained presence over time. We aim to develop projects that integrate international sophistication with local identity and social responsibility, contributing to raise standards and have a tangible impact on the urban and cultural environment of the country.

What has been your biggest learning experience in the US?

I’ve learned that creativity needs a strong business architecture to sustain. My primary role is to lead an organization with structure, financial vision and strategic clarity. Designing a firm requires the same rigor as designing a building: planning, risk management, and a clear positioning narrative.

Competing in the US means operating in one of the world’s most challenging environments. That experience taught me constant discipline, structured innovation, and strategic resilience. Excellence is not aspirational; it is operational.

What’s your secret to success outside?

Meticulous preparation, consistency in execution and professional integrity. In highly competitive markets, differentiation is achieved not only with creative talent, but with rigorous compliance, attention to detail, and a consistently built reputation. Sustained success is the result of method, ethics and long-term vision.

CONTRASTS
Óscar Jaimes
Director of Strategic Communications Moya Design Partners

“In December 2025, Calya reached a milestone in its construction and from that moment sought to be an architectural reference for well-being, hospitality and sustainability.”

What challenges did you face at MGM National Harbor and Howard Theatre?

At MGM National Harbor, the challenge was to demonstrate skill and vision to a sophisticated client who evaluated every decision with strategic precision. At the Howard Theatre, we took on the responsibility of intervening with a historical icon, which involved a delicate balance between heritage preservation and contemporary updating.

Both projects required innovation, complex multidisciplinary coordination, and strict adherence to timelines and technical standards. These apprenticeships reinforced my conviction that the scale changes, but the level of excellence must remain unchanged.

How did Washington, D.C. influence their approach?

Washington, D.C. is a laboratory of cultural diversity, institutional sophistication, and intense competition. It is a city where technical precision and conceptual detail are decisive. There I developed a sensibility towards proportion, elegance and narrative coherence of the design.

This international experience consolidated a methodological discipline and a global vision that I now apply in Colombia, bringing high standards of execution and a strategic perspective to each project.

Feb

¡Interiores que multiplican oportunidades! La estrategia de MOYA para optimizar edificios multifamiliares y expandir el acceso a vivienda de alta calidad.

¡Interiores que Multiplican Oportunidades!

Version en ingles aqui

Con más de 2,300 unidades diseñadas y ahorros operativos de hasta el 20%, MOYA demuestra que el diseño de interiores es la infraestructura silenciosa que garantiza la dignidad y la viabilidad financiera en la vivienda multifamiliar.

Más allá de la estética, Paola Moya propone un modelo de “precisión espacial” donde la luz natural, la acústica y la flexibilidad transforman el interés social en una plataforma de oportunidades y resiliencia climática

Colombia, febrero de 2026 – En el debate sobre vivienda asequible, la conversación suele centrarse en costos de suelo, financiamiento o densidad. Sin embargo, una parte decisiva del impacto ocurre puertas adentro. Para Moya Design Partners, el diseño interior no es una capa estética adicional, sino una herramienta estratégica capaz de mejorar calidad de vida, optimizar la operación del activo y ampliar el acceso a vivienda de alta calidad sin incrementar significativamente los costos estructurales.

“La comunidad no se construye con monumentalidad, sino con escala humana”. Para Paola Moya, CEO y Chief Creative Officer de Moya Design Partners (MOYA), este principio ha redefinido la forma de diseñar edificios multifamiliares y vivienda asequible. Los espacios que mejor funcionan no son los más grandes, sino los más legibles y cómodos, nichos, salas intermedias, visuales claras desde la circulación, iluminación cálida y mobiliario flexible. En proyectos como The Linden Senior Residences – True Ground y Haven by Agape, las áreas comunes fueron concebidas como extensiones del hogar, no como espacios institucionales. “Diseñar comunidad no es imponer interacción, es crear condiciones para que ocurra de manera natural”, explica Moya.

Este enfoque parte de decisiones claras sobre dónde no se puede recortar. Para la firma, hay elementos innegociables, como la iluminación natural y artificial bien diseñada, acústica efectiva entre unidades, accesibilidad real más allá del cumplimiento mínimo normativo, seguridad y control de acceso, y calidad en las áreas comunes. “Cuando se reduce inversión en estos aspectos, no solo se afecta la experiencia del residente, se compromete su dignidad y la estabilidad operativa del edificio”, afirma Moya.

La estrategia también se sostiene en tres criterios fundamentales en la selección de materiales, salud y calidad del aire (bajo contenido de VOC, ventilación adecuada y control de humedad), durabilidad y mantenimiento (alto desempeño ante tráfico intenso y limpieza frecuente) y ciclo de vida y sostenibilidad (materiales que reduzcan reposición y consumo energético). Para MOYA, el interior no es un acabado superficial, sino una infraestructura silenciosa que protege presupuesto y bienestar.

La escala de su trabajo respalda esta visión. MOYA ha participado en el diseño de 2.336 unidades residenciales confirmadas en nueve desarrollos principales, incluyendo al menos 473 unidades asequibles documentadas en proyectos de ingreso mixto y vivienda 100% asequible. Entre ellos destacan The Bridge (112 unidades totalmente asequibles), Diane’s House (42 unidades de vivienda de apoyo), Takoma Metro (70 asequibles), Forest Glen Apartments (59 asequibles), The Iris (86 asequibles) y Sansé Apartments (104 asequibles). Además, la firma ha completado o está en proceso de certificación en 11 proyectos bajo estándares como LEED Gold, LEED Silver, Enterprise Green Communities y EarthCraft Gold.

Más allá de los números, el impacto es medible en desempeño. En desarrollos alineados con estándares como EarthCraft V5 Gold, las estrategias de eficiencia energética pueden reducir el consumo entre 15% y 30% frente al código base, dependiendo del sistema y clima. La integración de envolventes de alto desempeño, ventilación eficiente y maximización de luz natural genera reducciones adicionales de entre 15% y 25% en áreas comunes y unidades. Asimismo, el uso de materiales durables puede disminuir los costos de mantenimiento entre 10% y 20% a lo largo del ciclo operativo.

“En vivienda multifamiliar, el interior influye directamente en la permanencia de los residentes, en el mantenimiento y en la percepción de seguridad. En ese momento deja de ser estética y se convierte en estrategia financiera y social”, señala Moya. En proyectos como The Iris, Modera H Street o Takoma Metro, las áreas comunes funcionan como multiplicadores de oportunidad: pueden operar como coworking, aula, espacio de programación comunitaria o punto de encuentro intergeneracional. “Un espacio flexible puede ampliar la vida cotidiana del residente sin incrementar la huella del edificio. Esa es la verdadera optimización”, agrega.

De cara al futuro, MOYA apuesta por interiores adaptables que respondan al trabajo híbrido, el envejecimiento en sitio y la diversidad de hogares. En desarrollos como Forest Glen o Takoma, se incorporan plantas eficientes con espacio adaptable para escritorio, almacenamiento accesible y áreas comunes versátiles. “La vivienda asequible del futuro debe anticipar el cambio físico y social. Diseñar solo para el presente es diseñar con fecha de vencimiento”, concluye Moya.

En un contexto de creciente demanda de vivienda multifamiliar, la propuesta de MOYA demuestra que optimizar no significa reducir calidad, sino diseñar con precisión. Cuando el interior se concibe como infraestructura social y herramienta de gestión, cada decisión espacial puede multiplicar oportunidades y expandir el acceso a una vivienda verdaderamente digna y sostenible.

Feb

Interiors that Multiply Opportunities! MOYA’s Strategy to Optimize Multifamily Buildings and Expand Access to High-Quality Housing.

Interiors that multiply opportunities!

Spanish version here

With more than 2,300 units designed and operational savings of up to 20%, MOYA demonstrates that interior design is the silent infrastructure that guarantees dignity and financial viability in multifamily housing.

Beyond aesthetics, Paola Moya proposes a model of “spatial precision” where natural light, acoustics, and flexibility transform affordable housing into a platform for opportunity and climate resilience.

Colombia, February 2026 – In the debate around affordable housing, the conversation often centers on land costs, financing, or density. However, a decisive part of the impact happens indoors. For Moya Design Partners, interior design is not an additional aesthetic layer, but a strategic tool capable of improving quality of life, optimizing asset operations, and expanding access to high-quality housing without significantly increasing structural costs.

“Community is not built through monumentality, but through human scale.” For Paola Moya, CEO and Chief Creative Officer of Moya Design Partners (MOYA), this principle has redefined the way multifamily and affordable housing buildings are designed. The spaces that perform best are not the largest, but the most legible and comfortable: niches, intermediate lounges, clear sightlines from circulation areas, warm lighting, and flexible furnishings. In projects such as The Linden Senior Residences – True Ground and Haven by Agape, common areas were conceived as extensions of the home, not institutional spaces. “Designing community is not about imposing interaction, it is about creating the conditions for it to occur naturally,” explains Moya.

This approach begins with clear decisions about where cuts cannot be made. For the firm, there are non-negotiable elements such as well-designed natural and artificial lighting, effective acoustics between units, true accessibility beyond minimum code compliance, security and access control, and quality in common areas. “When investment is reduced in these aspects, not only is the resident experience affected, their dignity and the building’s operational stability are compromised,” states Moya.

The strategy is also grounded in three fundamental criteria in material selection: health and air quality (low VOC content, proper ventilation, and moisture control), durability and maintenance (high performance under heavy traffic and frequent cleaning), and life cycle and sustainability (materials that reduce replacement and energy consumption). For MOYA, the interior is not a superficial finish, but a silent infrastructure that protects both budget and well-being.

The scale of its work supports this vision. MOYA has participated in the design of 2,336 confirmed residential units across nine major developments, including at least 473 documented affordable units in mixed-income and 100% affordable housing projects. Among them are The Bridge (112 fully affordable units), Diane’s House (42 supportive housing units), Takoma Metro (70 affordable units), Forest Glen Apartments (59 affordable units), The Iris (86 affordable units), and Sansé Apartments (104 affordable units). Additionally, the firm has completed or is in the process of certification for 11 projects under standards such as LEED Gold, LEED Silver, Enterprise Green Communities, and EarthCraft Gold.

Beyond the numbers, the impact is measurable in performance. In developments aligned with standards such as EarthCraft V5 Gold, energy efficiency strategies can reduce consumption between 15% and 30% compared to base code, depending on system and climate. The integration of high-performance envelopes, efficient ventilation, and maximized natural light generates additional reductions of between 15% and 25% in common areas and residential units. Likewise, the use of durable materials can decrease maintenance costs between 10% and 20% throughout the operational lifecycle.

“In multifamily housing, the interior directly influences resident retention, maintenance, and the perception of safety. At that point, it ceases to be aesthetics and becomes financial and social strategy,” notes Moya. In projects such as The Iris, Modera H Street, or Takoma Metro, common areas function as opportunity multipliers: they can operate as coworking spaces, classrooms, community programming areas, or intergenerational gathering points. “A flexible space can expand a resident’s daily life without increasing the building’s footprint. That is true optimization,” she adds.

Looking ahead, MOYA is committed to adaptable interiors that respond to hybrid work, aging in place, and diverse household structures. In developments such as Forest Glen or Takoma, efficient layouts incorporate adaptable desk space, accessible storage, and versatile common areas. “The affordable housing of the future must anticipate physical and social change. Designing only for the present is designing with an expiration date,” concludes Moya.

In a context of growing demand for multifamily housing, MOYA’s proposal demonstrates that optimization does not mean reducing quality but designing with precision. When the interior is conceived as social infrastructure and a management tool, every spatial decision can multiply opportunities and expand access to truly dignified and sustainable housing.

Feb

5 Trends in Design Redefining Cities & Homes

Spanish version here

Journalist: Alirio Aguilera for Economia y Desarrollo Newspaper. Connect with Paola Moya here

Urban design is undergoing a profound transformation. Looking towards 2026, concepts such as wellbeing, place narrative, and emotional architecture are no longer isolated trends, but fundamental criteria that define a space’s relevance.

For Paola Moya (Moya Design Partners) design has moved beyond form and function. “A space that does not improve the way we breathe, sleep, work, or live together fails to fulfill its true purpose.”

She outlines five defining design directions for 2026: Wellbeing Is No Longer “Nice to Have”. It Is a Design KPI
In 2026, design is no longer evaluated solely by appearance, but by its measurable impact on health. We spend close to 90% of our time indoors, making interior environments a matter of public health.

Clean air, well-regulated natural light, and acoustic comfort are no luxuries. They are baseline conditions. It is no coincidence that standards such as WELL Building Standard are now present in more than 74,000 projects across 137 countries, covering 5.87 billion square meters.

Wellbeing is no longer conceptual. It is measured.

Emotional Architecture: Spaces That Are Felt—and Remembered
The defining question of design in 2026 is no longer “How does it look?” but “How does it feel?”

Emotional architecture gains strength because it designs everyday experiences: arriving, waiting, gathering, and inhabiting. Clear thresholds, human scale, honest materials, and warm light foster connection and belonging.

A space that is easy to understand and fit to live in, does more than function properly. It becomes memorable.

Air, Light, and Silence: The New Invisible Infrastructure
True innovation is not always visible. Measurable ventilation, humidity control, air filtration, circadian lighting strategies, and acoustic comfort have become essential infrastructures.

The urgency is real. In Colombia, The Health National Institute (Instituto Nacional de Salud – INS) estimates that nearly 8% of annual deaths are associated with environmental factors such as contaminated air and water.¹

Design excellence is no longer solely aesthetic—it is preventive.

Integrated Nature and Buildings to Preserve and Conserve Resources
Biophilia has evolved from decorative gesture to strategic framework. Research shows that integrating nature improves wellbeing, productivity, and creativity.

Additionally, The Colombian Chamber of Construction (CAMACOL) estimates that buildings meeting green standards can reduce energy and water consumption by 20% to 40%, while increasing durability and asset value.²

In 2026, sustainability and efficiency are no longer optional add- ons, they are competitive advantages.

Color Moves Beyond Neutral: 2026 Embraces Warm, Deep, Emotional Tones
Color becomes a central narrative thread in interior design in 2026. According to a report by Vogue, the premise is clear: the home must become a refuge, and color is a primary tool in achieving that.³

The cool palettes that dominated for years —pure whites, grays, and neutral beiges— are gradually giving way to richer, nature-inspired tones with emotional depth. Warm browns, ochres, terracottas, and caramel hues emerge as new chromatic foundations, offering depth, character, and an immediate sense of warmth.

This shift does not pursue immediate impact, but harmony and permanence. Butter yellows evolve into more toasted variations; reds deepen into brick, wine, or burgundy tones; and neutrals are redefined through warmer nuances such as Classic Beige or Wax Paper.

Bold accents such as Crimson, Emerald, Indigo, or Chocolate appear across larger surfaces, furnishings, and full-height walls. The result is more sophisticated, enduring, and emotionally resonant spaces, where color does not decorate, but constructs atmosphere and wellbeing.

Designing for Tangible Impact
Looking ahead to 2026, architectural design is increasingly defined as a tool for tangible impact in daily life. For Paola Moya, this means integrating wellbeing, place narrative, and emotion into every project, with the understanding that spaces are not simply used—they are felt, remembered, and inhabited.

“When a space succeeds in moving people while caring for them at the same time, it has fulfilled its reason for being,” she concludes.

¹ Informe Carga de Enfermedades Ambiental en Colombia

² CAMACOL – Colombia consolidated un nuevo estandar de construccion

³ Vogue Tendencias en Decoración 2026

Jan

Designing for How Children Learn

Carola Luna Carrieri – Creative Director – [email protected]

Designing for an early learning center, especially through environmental graphics, is about helping kids feel comfortable, curious, and a little excited about the environment where they are.

At Old Randle Early Learning Center, the environmental graphics were never meant to sit on the walls just to be looked at. They’re part of how kids experience the building, moving through it, noticing things, and slowly making it theirs. Designing them alongside MOYA’s Interiors team from concept made all the difference. The graphics feel like they belong to the space and architecture, rather than something added later.

Instead of using the same graphic language everywhere, the school was imagined as a small journey, floor by floor.

The environment as an educator
Kids are learning all the time, not just in classrooms. Hallways, restrooms, and shared spaces teach too, just in quieter ways.

Here, the environment does some of that teaching on its own. Through color, rhythm, and repetition, the graphics help kids understand where they are and how the building fits together. No instructions. No signs telling them what to do. Just spaces that make sense.

Three floors, three worlds
The River Floor, on the ground level, feels calm and welcoming. Flowing shapes, fish, and cool blues move along the walls, setting an easy rhythm for arrival and transition. It’s a place to land, take things in, and ease into the day.

The Hornets Floor, on the second level, brings in more energy. This is where the school’s mascot really comes to life, flying, exploring, and popping up in discovery areas and restrooms. What started as a simple identity element turns into a familiar character kids recognize and follow.

The Hilltop Floor, on the third level, opens things up even more. Hills, trees, waterfalls, and birds create a lighter, more expansive landscape. The graphics feel more abstract and exploratory, matching both the interiors and the growing independence of the kids who use the space.

Different moods, different colors, different stories, all connected.

Designing for independence and inclusion
Kids don’t need to be told where they are. They feel it.
Clear themes, familiar characters, and thoughtful scale help children move through the building naturally. Spaces feel predictable in the best way, welcoming, legible, and easy to understand. That sense of comfort supports independence, confidence, and a feeling of belonging.

Collaboration matters
This project works because the graphics and interiors were designed together. Colors, materials, and proportions were aligned early on, so nothing competes for attention.

When interiors and environmental graphics speak the same language, the space feels whole, and kids feel it too.

That’s when design does its quiet magic.

It’s how we design at Moya Design Partners (MOYA), with intention, collaboration, and care.

Jan

Social Housing & the Language of Urban Dignity

Oscar Jaimes Navarro – Director of Strategic Communications and Public Relations – [email protected]

As human beings, we have a deep need to belong. That need is built, first and foremost, through language: the way we name, describe, and give meaning to the spaces we inhabit.

Language does more than communicate experiences; it shapes them. It defines behaviors, creates bonds, and can also generate conflict. As Denis Villeneuve states in Arrival (2016): “Language is the foundation of civilization. It is the glue that holds people together.”

In social housing, this choice of words matters more than we often acknowledge. Yet the conversation tends to focus on budgets, regulations, and political or legal gaps. Rarely do we speak about the people who will live in these spaces—or about the language that recognizes them as a community and allows them to belong.

This is the paradox cities across the Americas and around the world have faced for decades: how to build more housing without losing the soul of communities. From Washington, DC, to Bogotá, urban growth, migration, and inequality continuously challenge how we define the word home. Amid this complexity, one truth becomes clear: the way we talk about housing shapes how we conceive it, design it, and build it. This relationship between language and housing is not abstract—it manifests concretely in how projects are imagined, communicated, and realized.

Communication as Invisible Infrastructure
Every housing project begins long before the first brick is laid. It begins with a story: how government leaders articulate their priorities, how developers communicate their vision, and how neighbors perceive change. Communication is essential to building trust, setting expectations, and defining the values that underpin every square foot constructed.

In the context of social housing, this becomes especially critical. The COVID-19 crisis amplified voices questioning how people want to live in their cities and revealed the need for shared narratives. Strategic communication helps align equity and inclusion, reframes affordability as resilience, and brings public institutions, private partners, and communities together around a common goal.

At MOYA Design Partners, we have seen how a clear narrative can transform projects into movements. Our design process begins by listening—to the language of the community, its stories, and its collective memory—to understand how the past continues to shape identity today.

When communication is integrated as part of design, it shapes not only how projects are perceived, but also how people engage with them. This includes government actors, who must act as key collaborators in the process of city-building.

A Global Challenge with Local Realities
In Raleigh, North Carolina, hundreds of residents have gathered to protest unmet political promises around affordable housing (Roman, 2025)¹. At the same time, in cities around the world, the cost of living continues to rise, and quality of life is increasingly measured through everyday realities such as access to transportation.

Data from the Urban Institute (2023)² reveals that one in ten residents of Washington, DC, does not have stable housing. In Colombia, the National Urban Policy Review of Colombia by the OECD (2022)³ shows that all 1,103 municipalities face distinct geographic, demographic, economic, and social conditions—shaped by fragmented urban development, complex geography, and limited transportation infrastructure.

These realities point to a global challenge with deeply local expressions. In this context, the sector must actively listen to communities and communicate clearly the social and economic value of its projects. People want to participate in shaping their neighborhoods and cities—but they expect, in return, a genuine commitment to being heard.

The role of communicators in housing equity
As communicators, we are, above all, builders of trust. Our work goes beyond campaigns or press releases: it can shape how people experience public policy, design, and projects that impact their daily lives.

Some things we can do in scenarios where trust is important include:
Translating complexity into clarity: In Washington, DC, African American residents represent 41% of the population, yet they make up 68% of those facing housing insecurity. This gap shows how data, when explained with clarity and context, can guide fairer design decisions and public policies.

The explanation for this complex situation stems from how people live: for example, African American residents, who are also more likely to live in households with children, are more likely to experience other challenges such as overcrowding, substandard housing conditions, pests, and lack of affordability.

Numbers inform, but stories mobilize. This shapes how housing is conceived and built.

Connecting data with emotions: while in the United States, affordable housing lies at the intersection of policy, economics, and social responsibility, in contexts such as Colombia—where territorial inequalities run deep—communication translates data into narratives that acknowledge the human experience behind the statistics.

That connection is key to generating empathy, participation, and a sense of belonging. Cities like Washington, DC are redefining density and access while balancing sustainability goals and equity mandates with actions that connect with society.

In Colombia and across Latin America, the challenge feels equally urgent. Rapid urbanization, migration, and post-conflict reconstruction programs demand solutions that combine design, sustainability, and cultural sensitivity.

When communication brings together evidence, context, and emotion, it becomes a powerful tool for advancing more equitable housing.

Giving visibility to the human stories behind architectural progress: Social housing is, above all, a conversation about dignity. A conversation that begins with language, continues through communication, and materializes in the built environment. When words include, projects can include as well. And when design responds to that listening, the city stops being an abstract system and becomes a place where people can truly belong.

In the United States, equity mandates require all parties involved in architectural projects to demonstrate the progress their work brings to communities. In places like Washington, DC—where approximately 44,000 residents spend more than half of their income on rent, while more than one-third face food insecurity⁴—the impact of an architectural project can be made visible through the transformations experienced in everyday life.

If social housing helps transform not only housing security but also improves living conditions related to food security, it is undoubtedly a story that must be told.

Every message we craft can strengthen the bridge between political intention and community acceptance.

A call to strategic empathy
Affordable housing is not only a matter of construction; it has political, economic, design, and also cultural challenges—it is cultural. The way we frame messages determines whether it is perceived as social assistance or as civic pride.

However, the future of housing depends as much on design as on dialogue. If we want resilient, inclusive, and sustainable cities, we must first build the language that unites them. As communicators, we have the responsibility to speak that language with empathy and purpose: to turn housing into a story of dignity, not scarcity.

Because every project begins with a conversation.

Read the spanish version here

¹ Raleigh leaders pressed on housing promises at packed church event. Roman (2025)

²Housing Insecurity in the District of Columbia. Solari, Lo, Rashid, Bond (2023)

³National Urban Policy Review of Colombia (OECD, 2022)

⁴ Growing Share Of D.C. Renters Spend At Least Half Of Their Income On Rent (Baskin, 2023)

Jan

Eight Years In: Designing the Ecosystem

Eight years ago, Moya Design Partners (MOYA) began with a simple but ambitious idea: that design could be both beautiful and consequential. That architecture and creativity, when done thoughtfully, could shape spaces, experiences, communities, and long-term value.

This month, as we celebrate our eight-year anniversary, that idea has evolved into something much bigger: an integrated ecosystem of services designed to meet our clients wherever their vision begins and carry it through every layer of execution.

From Studio to Ecosystem

What started as MOYA Design, an architecture and interiors studio rooted in rigorous thinking and cultural sensitivity, naturally expanded as our clients’ needs became more complex. MOYA Creative emerged to ensure that visual identity, storytelling, and brand expression were as intentional as the spaces themselves. Last year, we launched MOYA Development, allowing us to sit on the owner’s side of the table aligning design excellence with long-term strategy, feasibility, and impact. And now, we’re proud to introduce MOYA Living.

Introducing MOYA Living

MOYA Living is our newest chapter and a natural evolution of how we already work. This platform focuses on curation, art creation, lighting design, and furniture design, bringing the same level of intentionality to the objects and atmospheres that truly complete a space. It is where design moves from form into touch, texture, light, and emotion.

MOYA Living is about composing environments. Custom lighting defines mood and rhythm. Furniture is designed for comfort, presence, and longevity. Art created or curated with intention reflects culture, story, and place.

Why This Matters to Our Clients

In today’s complex business environment, our clients are seeking something more intentional: clarity, cohesion, and confidence. The true value of an integrated, full-service approach lies in the details: lighting, materials, furniture, art, and finishes that bring warmth, character, and meaning to a space. These elements transform a well-designed environment into one that feels complete, human, and enduring. By aligning architecture, interiors, branding, development strategy, and curated living elements under one guiding philosophy, we offer one vision, one accountable team, and a level of care that elevates every project across sectors.

Looking Ahead

Eight years in, we are more committed than ever to designing with integrity, curiosity, and care. MOYA continues to grow deepening our ability to serve our clients holistically.

Thank you to the clients, collaborators, and team members who have trusted us, challenged us, and grown with us.

Paola Moya

CEO and COO, MOYA Design Partners

@bypaolamoya

Dec

Returning Home With Experience

Returning Home With Experience, Purpose, and a Responsibility to Give Back

Couple of weeks ago, my team and I had the opportunity to spend meaningful time in Bogotá and Medellín, reconnecting with Colombia’s professional, institutional, and creative ecosystem. This visit was especially personal.

After 27 years living abroad, building my career in the United States, and spending over 15 years as a business owner, returning to Colombia as a professional, rather than as a student or visitor, felt both grounding and energizing. It was a moment to bring back what years of practice, leadership, and global exposure have shaped in me: the discipline of having run two companies, the responsibility of leading multidisciplinary teams, and the perspective gained from working across countries, cultures, and sectors. This was about creating new relationships.

We met with leaders across construction, infrastructure, architecture, engineering, hospitality, tourism, government, academia, and media, individuals and institutions shaping Colombia’s present and future. Our goal was simple and intentional: to listen, to share experiences, and to explore how global knowledge and local expertise can meet with purpose.

As a multifaceted designer, my work has never lived within a single lane. Architecture, interiors, urban design, branding, environmental graphics, and strategy have always informed one another in my practice. That same integrative mindset guided every conversation we had: how design operates as a system, how it supports communities, how it scales responsibly, and how it can elevate both public and private initiatives.

What stood out most during this journey was the openness. The willingness to collaborate. The shared belief that Colombia benefits when knowledge circulates freely, when those of us who have built careers abroad return not to impose, but to contribute.

I’m deeply grateful to the organizations, institutions, and media partners who welcomed us, shared their time, and engaged in thoughtful dialogue. These conversations reaffirmed something I hold strongly: giving back is not a gesture, it’s a responsibility. This is not a conclusion. It’s a continuation.

Thank you to everyone who made these meetings possible. I look forward to building what comes next—together.

— Paola Moya CEO & COO, Moya Design Partners (MOYA)

@bypaolamoya

Nov

Designing Resilience, Equity & Place

Designing Resilience, Equity & Place — Reflections from the Urban Land Institute 2025 Fall Meeting in San Francisco

Last week, I joined more than 5,000 urban development leaders, investors, and designers at the Urban Land Institute’s 2025 Fall Meeting in San Francisco, held at Moscone West. For three days, @uliglobal turned the Bay Area into a living classroom — offering field tours, case studies, and conversations that pushed the boundaries of what’s possible in resilient, inclusive, and human-centered design.

I left deeply inspired and with a renewed sense of purpose for how we at Moya Design Partners (MOYA) approach every project we touch.

Day 1 — Waterfront Reinvention at Mission Rock

Day 1 began with a visit to Mission Rock, the 28-acre neighborhood redefining San Francisco’s southern waterfront. Developed by Tishman Speyer, the San Francisco Giants, and the Port of San Francisco, Mission Rock demonstrates what happens when sustainability, equity, and design excellence converge.

Key takeaways:

Climate-resilient infrastructure: The development integrates a bay-water exchange system that heats and cools buildings, cutting emissions while conserving water.
Public-private partnership at scale: Collaboration among developers, city agencies, and community stakeholders ensures growth aligns with long-term environmental goals.
Equitable urbanism: Nearly 40% affordable housing and eight acres of public parks position Mission Rock as a model for inclusive waterfront development in an era of rising seas.

For MOYA, this tour reaffirmed our belief that resilience isn’t an add-on — it’s a foundation. From master planning to architecture, sustainability has to shape every decision from day one.

Day 2 — Affordable Housing & Equity in Design

The second day spotlighted projects tackling one of the most urgent challenges facing American cities: affordable and inclusive housing. Sites visited:

Kapuso at the Upper Yard — 131 affordable homes replacing a former parking lot, creating a vibrant, transit-oriented community.
Sunnydale HOPE SF — A 50-acre redevelopment bringing over 1,700 new homes, parks, retail, and a community hub centered on dignity and opportunity.
The Kelsey Civic Center — 112 inclusive units for residents with and without disabilities, proving design can be a tool for access and belonging.

Lessons that resonated:

Equity must live in the design, not just in the mission statement.
Community engagement, thoughtful partnerships, and human-scaled architecture create dignity at every price point.
Transit and access are not amenities — they’re lifelines.

These projects reminded me why empathy is as essential to design as geometry or light.

Day 3 — Adaptive Reuse, Innovation & Reinvention

On the final day, I explored Mare Island — once the first U.S. Naval Shipyard on the West Coast and now a hub for innovation, craft, and sustainability.

From the precision of Factory_OS, reimagining how modular housing is built, to the authenticity of Redwood Empire Whiskey, revitalizing heritage structures with California soul, the tour was a lesson in reinvention done right. It’s proof that legacy spaces can evolve into platforms for the future, when design, reuse, and community vision align.

My experience at ULI fuels our collective knowledge and sharpens the strategies we bring to our clients. At Moya Design Partners (MOYA) we’ve always believed that great design begins long before a line is drawn, it starts with understanding systems, people, and purpose. The lessons from San Francisco reinforced that belief.

We integrate resilience early in the process, treating infrastructure and the environment not as background conditions but as design opportunities. Our approach ensures that energy performance, climate adaptation, and long-term stewardship are woven into the architectural DNA of a project from day one.

We also build collaboration frameworks that bridge public agencies, private developers, and community voices. True impact comes from partnerships that align values and resources — and from creating spaces where everyone has a stake in the outcome.

Designing for equity and belonging remains central to our practice. We view accessibility, inclusion, and sustainability as essential elements of good design, not optional features. Every space we create aims to foster connection, dignity, and opportunity for all who experience it.

And finally, we focus on placemaking — crafting environments that celebrate culture, identity, and context. Our work seeks to reflect the stories of the people who inhabit these places, ensuring design serves as both a physical and emotional anchor.

The ULI Fall Meeting reminded me why we do what we do. Walking through neighborhoods like Mission Rock, Sunnydale, and Mare Island wasn’t just an educational experience, it was a glimpse into the future of cities: resilient, equitable, and alive with purpose. At MOYA, we carry those lessons forward. They’ll inform the next waterfront we reimagine, the next community we design for, and the next generation of sustainable architecture we deliver.

Follow me at @bypaolamoya or @moya.us.

#ULISanFrancisco #ULIFallMeeting #MissionRock #AffordableHousing #UrbanDesign #SustainableDevelopment #ResilientCities #InclusiveCommunities #AdaptiveReuse #MoyaDesignPartners