About Me
Hi! My name is Maria Angela Mejia Leon and I am an adventurer, cat lover, reading lover, polyglot (spanish, english, french and german), traveler, yogui, impro actress and urban cyclist from Lima, Peru.
Since I was a child, my passion for exploration and learning has taken me through various fields, excelling academically in science, art, sports and languages. Choosing architecture as a career allowed me to get involved in various disciplines, in addition to materialize ideas and improve my environment. From the beginning of my professional career, I dedicated myself to manage construction, architecture and landscaping projects with a sustainable sense in Lima, Peru. Initially, while working at an NGO, I contributed to the construction of schools and neighborhood infrastructure, affirming the transformative power of architecture to improve the quality of life of citizens. Later, I worked as a construction architect in projects of residential buildings, banking, offices, among others. I also worked as a landscape architect, managing and executing vertical gardens and green roofs in various buildings in my city.
Green facades I worked on in Lima
Me on the construction field
Teaching has been a constant in my life, from giving English lessons at the age of ten to joining the teaching staff at two institutes in Lima. Thus, I joined as a professor in Interior Design undergraduate and graduate programs, realizing the profound impact that education could have on lives beyond my immediate students.
Since 2018, I have been actively involved in Fab Lab Peru participating in activities that resonate with my passions. A notable contribution includes my role as a mentor in the Innova Fab Women Program, where I worked to reduce the gender gap in technology.
In addition, I dedicate my efforts to creating innovative applications for new technologies, for example an introductory workshop on chocolate molding with digital fabrication tools in Satipo, a town located in the central Peruvian jungle.
Molding and casting workshop that I taught at Satipo
Meanwhile, FABly - my personal project - was born in May 2020, combining my interests in architecture, innovation, sustainability and prefabrication.
The project includes my first online course, "Fab&Plant: a vertical garden for you!" and extends to construction projects, 3D printed products and innovations in design and fabrication. Although in its early stages, FABly promises to have an impact on people's quality of life.
First Fab&Plant prototypes
Fab Academy Motivation
Ever since I was a child, I dreamed of creating objects. At the age of 8, I made my first sketches to invent my personalized dishwasher, dreaming of a world where my parents could spend more time with me instead of doing everyday chores. Twenty-five years later, that childhood dream has evolved, adapting to the needs evolved, adapting to the changing needs of my nation. Today, I not only address Lima's substantial infrastructure deficit as an architect, but I also impart knowledge to new generations of designers. Moreover, I am actively involve in a project in the Peruvian Amazon, collaborating with Fab Lab Peru to disseminate and democratize digital fabrication tools in various sectors, such as chocolate, mining and chestnut cultivation. At the same time, I work fervently to reduce the gender gap in technology.
The dream that started as a personal aspiration has transformed into a social cause. Now, I seek out vibrant and challenging environments to connect with people and make a difference. The Fab Academy program represents for me the ideal platform to further develop this dream.