EcoHabitat competition
Toward
the end of 2004, the EcoSouth Network opened a competition about the
EcoHabitat:”Projects executed and/or architectonic designs with
EcoMaterials. Forty-six works were presented and the jury had to plan
additional sessions to decided upon the ten finalists. The response was
much greater than the organizers could have imagined. Not only the
great number of proposals, but also the quality of the work was
outstanding. Noteworthy is that all the presentations were in Spanish,
even if they were from outside Latin America.
Toward the end of 2004, the EcoSouth Network announced the EcoHabitat competition “Projects executed and/o architectonic designs with EcoMaterials”. Forty-six works had been presented at the time of the deadline and the jury had to plan additional sessions to decide upon the 10 finalists.
The response has been greater that the organizers could imagine. Not
only is it the great number of proposals outstanding, but also the high
level of quality. Noteworthy is that all presentations were made in the
Spanish language, even though they may have been about projects in
non-Spanish speaking areas.
The presentations about works executed provide many good photos that demonstrate the architectonic possibilities with EcoMaterials. The majority of these projects have walls built either of earth or different types of wood, and all works reflect the integration of the culture and natural environment.
The
designs “still not constructed” are characterized by the variety of
solutions, from the most simple and innovative family dwelling on one
plot, to medium scale settlement concepts. It is the architectural
variations that stand out in these projects and, in many cases, the
philosophy behind the project. Various focused upon the need to proceed
with futuristic ideas, but taking into account the culture and natural
environment of the place, in order to counteract possible tourism
developments as well as commercial urbanizations.
The 10 finalists have been determined and they have been requested to
send additional material, with the recommendation that the executed
projects provide more photos, and the projects yet to be built
concentrate on technologies and materials. Considering that the jury
needed additional time to review all presentations, the finalists have
until the end of July to present their additional documentation.
The finalists are (with no particular order):
- Raquel Barrionuevo, Centro de salud Qotowincho, Perú
- Roxana Abud, Viviendas de interés social, Tilcara, Argentina
- Fabiana Zapata, Habitáculo para pescador, Venezuela
- César Reyes, Casa para un hombre de maíz, Guatemala
- Fernando Martín-Consuegra, Francisco Botella y Carlos Higinio Esteban, Casa para madres solteras, Yeredemé, Mali
- Leandro Chacón, Parque Semillas de Esperanza, Venezuela
- Yitzy Suárez, Alas para mirar, Venezuela
- Axel Huhn, Casa de huéspedes, Playa Ventanilla, México
- Gabriela Polliotto & Fernando Galíndez, Proyecto de vivienda ECOSOL, Argentina.
- Alejandro Folga, Vivienda Evolutiva de tierra y madera, Chile
The jury has decided to present part of the work of all the finalists
as posters at the EcoMaterials Conference, and in this way honor the
high level of quality of all the participants. The winners in the two
areas will receive bursaries to attend this conference.
While it is not possible to present examples of the work of the
finalists, so as not to influence the final stage of judging, the
accompanying photos show some of the high quality presentations not
included in the final stage.
