Images

View from inside a compost looking towards the plant beds and water storage.


View looking towards the plant beds, water storage and compost.

Sections

Section AA


Section BB

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.

Fluid Growth Pattern

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.

Pattern Study

Visit to Barrio San Agustin and 'Hong-Kong'

Barrio people

Works on facades carried out with Mision Tricolor

Boy looking at murals painted by Natalya Critchley

Materials Escalera La Ceiba

1. Bricks, red earth or concrete
2. Rubber
3. Pipes of various sizes and materials
4. Aluminium sheets
5. Barrels
6. Metal net
7. Wires

Escalera La Ceiba

Surrounding a long stairway and path, the site starts from the top of Barrio La Ceiba, and leads down towards San Agustin del Sur and Parque Central. As the stairway is shifted slightly to the west of the hill edge, one side of the stairway adjoins to the ranchos and the other faces a steep slope.

Baruta Vertical Gym

Complejo Cultural Teresa Carreño

Terraces Filtering Water

Filtering of water through a series of plant beds attached to a staircase.

Barrio San Agustin - Feature Mapping

1. Electric pole with several wires and lamps connected
2. Stairways, both as primary means of circulation and for single houses
3. View of Caracas formal city
4. Dogs, various breeds
5. Pipes with water from mains and sewage
6. Clothes drying on racks
7. Cable cars and Metrocable stations

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.

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.

Briefing...

Site Visit FAVA School

School for autistic children designed by UTT will soon open.

The Stairway of La Ceiba

The site is a long stairway and path leading from the La Ceiba Metrocable station down towards Parque Central. On one side of the stairway is barrio buildings and on the other the hill slopes steeply towards the valley.

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.

Case Study: Organoponico Bolivar 1

Organopónico Bolivar I is the first urban organic garden in Caracas. It was started 2002 as a cooperative and is part of the government’s plan to produce more food locally.

(Image from www.panna.org/files/u1/gardeningCity.jpg)

Sketching in San Agustin

Surrounded by kids in the barrio these are few of the sketches I did today.

The Stairways of the Barrio

Paths and stairways are inherent characteristics of the hillside barrios as they wind up the hills serving as the main means of access for the barrio inhabitants.

San Agustin Barrio

The San Agustin barrio is located in central Caracas, south of Parque Central amd west of Jardin Botanico. It is built on four hills which is reflected in the urban pattern and density.

Meeting with Artist Natalya Critchley

Natalya Critchley is an artist who is collaborating with UTT and has been drawing the Metrocable project in the San Agustin barrio. Born in England, Critchley has, since 1981, been based in Venezuela. Since working in the barrio and attending community meetings she has got invaluable connections with the community leaders and will help me get in touch with them to gain access to the barrio.

Natalya Critchley webpage
Contemporary Art Society

Caracas Orientation

I live in the Anclemy close to Chacaito and the Urban Think Tank Office, UTT, is located just a few blocks away in the Easo Building.

Project Proposal Updated

See the updated project proposal.

Welcome to Barrio Stairways Research Blog

I am currently working on updating the project proposal and detailed project plan which will be posted here shortly.