DESIGN
Stewardship for public space
NODE
07/04/19
EXPLANATION
​
Focusing in my site first I developed an axo at an intermediate scale and then focused on the design of the site itself. La Sierra is located in a steep area before a fold in the topography. As it goes through the site the vein will not only include the hydraulic buffer, but also very steep areas not suitable for building and the Jardin Circunvalar Park and water sanitation plant on the top.
My site in la Sierra is defined by three strong programmes: economic at the bottom part, along the main street of the neighborhood, with an open square and a community building. A recreational area at the top, out of the line of fire, and integrating existing facilities. And a productive space in the middle. The aim is that this area provdes direct value to the people, in the form of money, this way the people itself will protect the vein from being built on.
​
The design is defined by a set of connections between the two parts of the neighborhood creating flat space for connection/recreation etc which frame productive areas in the slopes in the form of terracing. The way this would be developed is by having an external influence or authority (like the city) creating the stabilization works and the buildings, then the community council would develop the programming and then the locals would take over in the productive slopes as they want. The idea is that they use a semi-flexible element, gabions to create this terracing, thus creating a very dynamic and informal space.
REFLECTION
​
When designing at this scale and in the site of La Sierra I wanted to focus on informality. Both on how to create a space for the local community that responded to the fact that the site is an informal settlement and that adapts and adopts the dynamics of this settlement. The idea was to put people at the centre of the project as main actant and driver of the site.
​
Turning this idea into a design was quite complex and I'm afraid a bit controversial. Bu tthe way I did this was first by having public space that created direct revenue to people. This followed the idea that I had before of using green and public space as a catalyst for economic development. The idea may be a bit too simplistic but it focuses on how I think people in this informal settlement work and their view on property. If a space is theirs, like actually theirs, and is a space that to a certain extent they have built themselves and they make money out of it, they will protect it against invasions from housing. The idea is that this grows up the vein as people look for more productive spaces.
​
While this idea is very much still unresolved and there are a lot of other factors to be considered, I think it sets a clear message of using people and their search for ownership and revenue as a method of stewardship.
REFLECTION ON PRACTICE
​
In landscape design we should move from community participation in the design process, to community action. The fact that communities are involved in the “construction” of some aspects of the design and the evolution of the site will create stronger ties between the community and that space. Moreover it will make public spaces more resilient to change from the community and more able to adapt to the needs and dynamics of people.
​
