View from inside a compost looking towards the plant beds and water storage.
View looking towards the plant beds, water storage and compost.
Barrio Stairways
Research project in the informal settlements of Caracas.
4 October 2010
The Proposal
The rainwater is collected from the buildings surrounding the cluster and stored in a concrete tank under a terrace. From the tank pipes transports the water to the plant beds
Plan showing two clusters
1. rainwater collection
2. rainwater storage
3. plant beds
4. trees to stabilise ground
5. paired compost
Composting
A cluster consists of rainwater collection, storage of rainwater, plant beds and compost. Each cluster could function individually but the idea is that excess water and compost materials feed the cluster at a lower level. The first cluster will be fed by a compost of organic material from the green area at the top of the hill.
The compost is a unit where organic waste is disposed at the lowest part of one cluster and the decomposed material is used to enrich the soil of the cluster at the next level. Each compost is paired so that while one is used, the organic material of the other one is decomposed which takes a few weeks.
A Cluster - From Rainwater to Compost
Rainwater is harvested from the existing roofs of the ranchos and fed to a rainwater storage tank. Depending on the frequency and amount of water during rainfalls the level of water in the tank varies.
The harvested rainwater from the tank is used for irrigation of vegetables. Depending on the level of water in the storage, different plants are irrigated. The plant most sensitive to draughts, lettuce, is irrigated even when the level is lowest. The system is automated and controls how much water each type of plant receives.
The organic waste of the plants is collected and disposed in the composting units, where the organic material is decomposed and then used to enrich the soil of the plant beds.
28 July 2010
27 July 2010
Stairway Section
To benefit from the topography of the site a system of terraces is proposed where gravity has a fundamental impact. Rainwater is collected from the roofs of the ranchos, stored at the level of the stairway and then used to irrigate the vegetables grown in terraces below. The organic materials and waste from the plants are composted and used to enrich the soil.
Visit to Barrio San Agustin and 'Hong-Kong'
24 July 2010
Materials Escalera La Ceiba
Escalera La Ceiba
23 July 2010
22 July 2010
Barrio San Agustin - Feature Mapping
21 July 2010
Initial Proposals
To address the problem with floods and landslides during torrential rains, the rainwater will be collected from the barrio roofs and directed to a large expandable container. How much water is used for irrigation and what plants are irrigated depends on the level of water in the container. The water is filtered through a series of plant beds and then used for showers and toilets.
Rainwater is lead from the barrio roofs and collected in a series of suspended sacks. From each sack leads an individual pipe for irrigation. The plants are grown in terraces so that excessive water drains off. For easy harvest the plant beds are located adjacent to the stairways.
Rainwater is lead from the barrio roofs and collected in a series of suspended sacks. From each sack leads an individual pipe for irrigation. The plants are grown in terraces so that excessive water drains off. For easy harvest the plant beds are located adjacent to the stairways.
Barrio Nuevo, Barrio Tricolor
The Barrio Nuevo, Barrio Tricolor is a government funded project to improve the condition of the ranchos (houses of the barrios). The roofs of the houses are repaired and the walls are painted with the colours of the Venezuelan flag. In addition to that there is a small project going on with community leader Auri and Natalya. The project aims to address the issue of rubbish and how it can be reduced. The idea is to start a compost and on the walls paint a mural showing what material should go into the compost.
20 July 2010
The Stairway of La Ceiba
17 July 2010
La Ceiba
The site for the project will be on the top of the hill outside the Metro Cable station of La Ceiba. There were some houses there before but they have been demolished to give place for some new housing developments. At the moment the site resembles a war zone with ruins of buildings and rubbish everywhere. The proposal involves a semi-temporary hydroponics farm where the inhabitants of the barrio can grow their own vegetables.
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