José Fernando Gómez Marmolejo

OBJECTIVE

Currently in the river, in addition to floating storage equipment, there are habitable structures built in a traditional manner, which do not have a waste control system. Faced with this premise, the project is proposed to be generated in phases. An effort for recuperation of artisanal technique implemented in the construction of floating houses and recognition has an Ecuadorian immaterial heritage that generates awareness. A planting a system of community sanitary services on the shore connected to the basic public network for existing structures.

The first step was the reuse and extension of the original structure of the floating platform to generate repair space and productivity, supported by recycled plastic drums under balsa wood buoys to improve buoyancy. The slope and height of the roof, along with its truss design, is increased to produce cross ventilation and create storage spaces. The accessibility and functionality of the refuge are optimized by adapting a new bridge. This added to complementary strategies such as slanted wooden panels in the envelope, for waterproofing, artificial lighting with photovoltaic cells and a vegetable garden on the bank of the river. With these strategies, the purpose of a transformation of the existing habitat in the same nine square meter space is fulfilled.

CONTEXT

The refuge is located on the banks of the river Babahoyo, in the city of Babahoyo, Los Ríos, Ecuador. With approximately 150 thousand inhabitants. The city developed based on the exchange of products through the river with floating warehouses and shelters with a strong fishing and transporting tradition. With the passage of time, these conditions have been forgotten.

Don Teodoro is a canoe repairman and artisanal fisherman who after 35 years continues to use his balsa wood equipment inherited by his father, already worn and in danger of collapsing. During the day he works in the city and in the evening he returns to his shelter.The intervention proposes the integral use of laurel wood, being a traditional resource on the Ecuadorian coast.

The financing of the shelter is self-managed (consisting of savings, donations, external volunteers) of the architecture team to obtain resources to work together with Don Teodoro, the community and collaborators.