Azucenas neighborhood center
“Un jardín para las Azucenas” is one project of a larger plan to create vibrant neighborhood centers in urban neighborhoods largely excluded from public investment and lacking in public space.
The space includes a small park, a kindergarten and a children’s library—all built by parents and neighbors. These community members participated in every step of the process, from defining the projects’ components to construction.
The urban and architectural conception integrated principles of sustainable design and was developed according to necessities expressed by community members, who participated in a series of workshops to collaboratively design the project.
This process required a strong commitment from both the working team at Casa de la Ciudad and community members. Casa de la Ciudad was responsible for technical aspects and for involving local authorities, while the community was responsible for the construction labor and its organization. Neighbors completed construction through tequios* supervised by Casa de la Ciudad’s team.
The playground is located on a slope between neighborhoods with distinct social backgrounds. On this site, which was previously a landslide, there is now a four level platform park that bridges the gap between the two communities and functions as a thematic playground connected by ramps.
The design process and material selection was made considering the local conditions in order to maximize the durability and decrease the maintenance necessities over the time.
The retaining walls were made with more than 950 recycled tires from the city dumps; tires were filled with construction rubbish and dirt and finished with a mixture of site earth and lime.
To maintain the platform levels, a system of terraces that absorb rainwater was created. The trees planted are native species that require little maintenance and can withstand the extreme climatic conditions of the place.
The streetlight runs on electricity generated by the same solar system that generates energy for the entire complex.
The implementation of this project has increased the number of cultural events in the surroundings and has encouraged relationships between neighbors. The park has become a vibrant neighborhood space, generating new activities among neighbors.
Tequios are the basis for most community works projects around the state.
Images and Plans
Technical Description
The foundation of the nursery project will be little impact on the type of architecture (small light structure building ) and the resistance of the ground .
reinforced concrete cubes of 20 x 20 cm in the structurally most sensitive points , connected by the foundation slab made with an electro - welded mesh attached to the reinforcing rod will be the same buckets .
The cubes are completely buried and slab 10 cm wide will be carried out on the soil surface and level. For this to work you need to install falsework sections for easy emptying of the slab.
The structure is simple and light to give the chance to all to participate in the making of the work and greater resistance to earthquakes . The main structure of the building will in wooden skids 10 x 10cm certified , with stringers of the same material to ensure the continuity of the vertical structure , allow installation of blacksmithing and making a wall filled with eco- bricks. The joints between vertical and horizontal elements are made with metal plates installed in the outer cloth of the same facade.
The walls of division and facade will be made with eco- bricks : PET bottles of 1l and 1.5l filled with clean plastic waste materials and compacted in the pot. This technique is expected to involve and sensitize residents on the reuse of waste from the construction and also invite other organizations and institutions to participate in the realization of eco- bricks. For the realization of the 5500 eco- bricks , the team offered in different cases to train people of all ages with a 30-40 minute talk on the premises of the institutions that are participating in the project .
The interior finishes are made with mixtures of lime and sand burnished for less irritating on contact for children lizo finish. No painting will be done .
