The Las Tejedoras group manufacturing heart in Ecuador, designed by architects José Fernando Gómez and Juan Carlos Bamba for a collective of ladies weavers, received the Mies Crown Corridor Americas award.
Positioned close to the growing metropolis of Guayaquil, the challenge was designed by Gómez de Natura Futura and Bamba to supply an area for native artisans and act as a distinction to the native city growth that has led to deforestation.
“The successful challenge, the Las Tejedoras Neighborhood Manufacturing Heart, is infused with a civic presence able to dignifying the whole group,” stated Mies Crown Corridor Americas Prize (MCHAP) Juror Maurice Cox.
“Recognizing the significance of area people constructing practices, the challenge provides formal expression to native crafts and elevates their qualities.”
The 2-story constructing consists of an oblong clay brick core that wraps round a central courtyard. Teak helps assist a sprawling roof that floats over a lot of the construction and is open above the middle.
At every degree, the passages are uncovered to the climate and alternate between being utterly open and hidden behind brick partitions, whereas the big home windows have been lined with teak wooden screens.
The out of doors design responds to the encircling local weather, encouraging gentle and air to enter the constructing.
“With a design that attracts on native supplies similar to teak wooden and clay brick in an intricate bone sample, the constructing's structure not solely celebrates custom but in addition responds to the local weather, guaranteeing pure air flow and light-weight.” MCHAP stated.
Applications similar to coaching areas, workshops, a store and group areas are situated within the constructing's giant, open halls.
Its central courtyard has been planted with native vegetation similar to guarumos and heliconias to create a “microclimate” that draws native birds and bugs.
“Positioned close to Guayaquil, the place fast city growth has led to deforestation, the middle serves as a counter narrative, reintroducing native vegetation and selling an atmosphere that encourages biodiversity,” MCHAP stated.
The constructing gives area for weavers, who’ve lacked an appropriate atmosphere for his or her craft for years, and in addition serves as an area for common group gatherings.
The collective of weavers additionally participated within the development of the challenge.
“The challenge not solely gives jobs in the neighborhood, but in addition facilitates expertise growth by means of energetic participation within the development course of,” Cox stated.
“Particularly, the construction is a bodily image of the group, reflecting the contributions of native ladies in its development.”
Gómez and Bamba labored with the Ecuadorian group Younger Dwelling Basis to develop the challenge.
Conceived by the Illinois Institute of Expertise School of Structure in 2013, the biennial MCHAP awards “excellence” to constructed initiatives throughout the Americas, taking a holistic method that considers the combination of “pure, constructed and human ecologies” in its recipients.
Earlier winners of the award embody a museum extension in Mexico Metropolis by Taller Mauricio Rocha and a “deceptively easy” college in Peru by Taller Mauricio Rocha.
Pictures is by JAG Studio.