The main design challenge for me and the architect Lucy Querales from LQ-tarq, was creating an environment which promotes the sense of Palmarito as a community. After years the population of the zone has increased, while common needs encourage neighbors together and linked on several activities promoted by the communal board; thus the need for a space that shelters the activities is very necessary. As soon the community had a land donated by the municipality, we started measuring a very tiny plot along a creek, with triangular shaped surface of just 160 square meters. As usual the surveying of client needs was done, highlighting whole aspects which will route us to model conception.
Despite a limited budget, we achieved to transform the simple idea of a forest guard chalet into a fresh and inviting modern space. The program of design is comprised by an open meeting room on first floor also storage, bathroom and kitchenette. At the second story there is a multipurpose area which would be usable as training room or space to conferences.
The structure was dimensioned on steel tubes linked through bolting and welding; very propitious method to this seismic zone. It is anchored on a floating concrete slab with steel reinforcement; being a structurally lightweight solution which in turn will meet future needs for possible expansion modules. Part of the steel structure is hidden within the stone wall, this fulfills the function of protecting the most disadvantaged facade, which through a computerized dynamic analysis of heating and cooling, we established as a priority create a strong thermal insulator, it also works as a division with the next land plot.
The appealing was improved through the structure painted in olive-green color as a reflection of trunks from rainforest, and pure white walls which highlight both the box volume suspended and spaces within. Some technical details were provided on finishes such as developed lighting improvements, furniture specifications, and custom signage for the entire facility. The formal aspect of the building combines the solidity of a white box that seeks to integrate the values of the immediate environment, being favorable for those facades opened by large windows which allows cross wind flow, and highlight or characteristic aspect of this volume is the notorious denial to the street represented by the enclosing wall on the second floor, it in turn is adorned with a artistic mural that could be signed by an artist from the community.
The overall result was outstanding, widely accepted by community. This architectural proposal becomes an experience design that provides an insight to policies that govern the social spaces development, in turn could participate in future competition as a guiding model to other regions of the country.
