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Pedro Ramírez Vázquez

Don
Pedro Ramírez Vázquez
Arq. Ramírez Vázquez.jpg
Secretary of Human Settlements and Public Works of Mexico
In office
1976–1982
Preceded by Luis Enrique Bracamontes
Succeeded by Marcelo Javelly Girard
President of the Mexican Olympic Committee
In office
1972–1974
Preceded by Josué Saenz
Succeeded by Alejandro Ortega San Vicente (interim)
Mario Vázquez Raña
Honorary Life Member of the IOC
Personal details
Born (1919-04-16)16 April 1919
Mexico City, Mexico
Died 16 April 2013(2013-04-16) (aged 94)
Mexico City, Mexico
Nationality Mexican
Spouse(s) Olga Campuzano Fernández (1926–1999; her death)
Children Pedro
Olga
+ José
Javier
Gabriella
Alma mater National Autonomous University of Mexico
Occupation architect, designer, professor, urbanist, official, plastic artist and politician
Religion Roman Catholicism
Website Official website

Pedro Ramírez Vázquez (April 16, 1919 – April 16, 2013) was a late twentieth century Mexican architect. He was born in Mexico City. He was persuaded to study architecture by writer and poet Carlos Pellicer.

Ramírez Vázquez earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from UNAM in 1943. He was responsible for the construction of some of Mexico's most emblematic buildings. He was a modern architect with influences from the European modern movement, Latin American modern architects and precolumbian cultures. Concrete is the material he used most often.

He developed a system to construct schools in rural areas, constructing thousands of schools in Mexico and abroad. The UNICEF has used such system. He was the president of the organizing committee of the Mexico City Olympics in 1968 and the World Cup in 1970. He was a member of the International Olympic Committee.

He won several awards including the National Arts Award in 1973, Cemex Award in 2003 and IDSA's Special Award in 1969 for notable results, creative and innovative concepts and long-term benefits to the industrial design profession, its educational functions and society at large. He was minister of public infrastructure and human settlements during president's José López Portillo government. He was founder and rector of the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana. He was part of the faculty of the UNAM and received various honorary degrees (doctor honoris causa) granted by several universities including the UNAM.

The Los Angeles Times wrote that "Ramirez Vazquez was known for stunningly original designs that blended a European modernist sensibility with pre-Columbia aesthetics."

Pedro Ramirez Vazquez focused his professional activity as a form of service that enrich the lives of the recipients with his architectural work, his dreams, or with his activity in other areas as organizer of the Olympic Games, as a public servant or person humanist conviction.

In the Olympics created the advertising program for peace and identity link between the cultures of young people participating countries. He thought it was more important to leave a legacy of peace in which young people would identify the traits that unite them and that they meet not only to compete, but to appreciate how every aspect and resources of their time are likely to be applied to keep hope alive for peace; for this reason, among others, Ramírez Vázquez promoted and managed that the International Olympic Committee withdrew the invitation for the Olympic Committee of South Africa to participate in the games in solidarity with the marginalized minority of people who lived in that country.


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