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Restoring Housing and Public Space Links in Communities through the El Faro de Mapasingue Communal House Project

Anabata Media · August 31st, 2022
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El Faro de Mapasingue Communal House is a communal house rehabilitation project projected to be a 'beacon' for communities in East Mapasingue, a suburb in the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador. In collaboration with the local community Hijos del Suelo, the Ecuadorian architects' group BBL Estudio designed the project to respond to a variety of dynamic circumstances and challenge the community to survive.

The El Faro de Mapasingue Communal House project is located on the outskirts of Guayaquil City, EcuadorThe El Faro de Mapasingue Communal House project is located on the outskirts of Guayaquil City, Ecuador.

More than just humanitarian aid and social recovery, the project is expected to serve as a guide for seeing a community through its cultural and educational activities. The project was later born with functions that adapted to the conditions of its community. During the day, this new communal house becomes a good meeting point due to its permeability and ability to reach public spaces. Meanwhile, at night, the luminosity that is so prominent in the stairwell area creates security and dynamism in the surrounding environment.

Thus, this 'lighthouse' project can also be a safe integration space for the surrounding 250 families and more than 150 children who often come to study together, read books, or just play.

This communal house was assigned to fix the relations between housing and public spaces in the Hijos del Suelo community, after the COVID-19 pandemicThis communal house was assigned to fix the relations between housing and public spaces in the Hijos del Suelo community, after the COVID-19 pandemic.

From the front, the folding door which is the boundary between the exterior and interior of the communal house gives an ambivalent impression of the configuration of the spaceFrom the front, the folding door which is the boundary between the exterior and interior of the communal house gives an ambivalent impression of the configuration of the space.

One of the design strategies of this communal house that supports the strengthening of public spaces is the feature of the platform - a transitional space between the staircase area and the interior. The spatial configuration is then supported by large folding doors of metal mesh. So, when the door is closed, the space in the house remains safe and the platform can be an extension of the stairwell area. Conversely, when it opens, it will give entry to the interior of the house while blurring the boundary between private and public space.

Communal house interior space that can be used for various activitiesCommunal house interior space that can be used for various activities.

At night, this communal house can create security and dynamism for the environment due to the luminosity that is so prominent in the staircase areaAt night, this communal house can create security and dynamism for the environment due to the luminosity that is so prominent in the staircase area.

The design of this communal house also contains various considerations derived from environmental conditions and community needs. Starting from; the decision to maintain the existing modular structure, connecting the outside with additional floors through a façade facing the street, the destruction of the dive wall to maximize natural lighting, and the overhaul of the service area to make it more compact and practical.

In addition, the BBL Estudio also changed the lateral façade of the old communal house to place a transparent storage space. Along with roof elevations that support continuous ventilation and lighting, an exit-leaning balcony feature was also added in one corner pointing east to welcome visitors and become an attraction on an urban scale.

The lateral walls of the old communal house were demolished to create transparent storage spacesThe lateral walls of the old communal house were demolished to create transparent storage spaces.

Communal houses when used by children for learning and playingCommunal houses when used by children for learning and playing.

In the end, each prominent vertical element that symbolizes the lighthouse and strengthens the character functions well like a skylight that can capture light during the day and project light from the interior to the entire building at night.

An all-white interior space that captures and reflects large amounts of light is the answer to the complex conditions of communal home implantation. Finally, folding doors, service areas, furniture, and plants also allow for varied space configurations to accommodate the diverse activities organized by the community.

From afar, people can recognize and receive the welcome of the communal house through the balcony in the front corner facing eastFrom afar, people can recognize and receive the welcome of the communal house through the balcony in the front corner facing east.

Design concept diagram
Design concept diagram.

Floor plan
Floor plan.

 

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Architecture · Public Space ·