Community Added Value Center
by Cooperativa CIMBRA
Caimancito, Jujuy, Argentina
Project details
Year
2024
Project year
2023
Land area
55 m²
Project website
Location
Team credits
collective
- Cooperativa CIMBRA -
Joaquin Trillo,
Eduardo Tapia,
Martina Vismara,
Natalia Álvarez,
Claudia Savilla,
Cristina Herrera.
The Community Added Value Centre is located in Caimancito, a small town in the northern province of Jujuy, Argentina. With its tropical and hot climate, Caimancito relies heavily on agriculture, particularly the cultivation of tomatoes and corn. This project employs a bottom-up participatory approach to develop integrated habitat production systems in collaboration with the Guaraní Indigenous community of Arete Guazú. Through workshops, the initiative fosters knowledge sharing in sustainable construction and agriculture, deeply rooted in local identity.
The Community Added Value Centre integrates a variety of bioclimatic solutions inspired by regional vernacular architecture and Indigenous knowledge. Key design elements include cross-ventilation systems, vertical shade façades and strategically oriented rooms and galleries, all aimed at enhancing functionality and environmental sustainability. Initial community meetings identified primary needs, leading to the design of a garden, the Added Value Centre and a module for ecological toilets. The building draws inspiration from traditional Chaco ranch structures, creating a cohesive, thermally comfortable space. Reinterpreted wattle and daub walls incorporate sunshades and galleries, strengthening the connection to the surrounding environment.
In addition, the project incorporates social technologies such as a shaded roof for thermal comfort, water harvesting systems, reserve tank storage and ecological wastewater treatment. Vertical sunshades are designed using frameworks reminiscent of the envarillados found in Guaraní fences, along with local wattle-and-daub construction techniques. These solutions effectively filter solar radiation while creating transitional spaces that link the interior with the natural surroundings.
Water scarcity poses a significant challenge for smallholder farmers in Caimancito, particularly the 18 families of Arete Guazú, who primarily depend on horticultural production. Their land is leased from Ledesma, a major sugar cane company that consumes most of the available water, leaving rural areas without access to water for months.
To address this issue, CIMBRA proposes a range of social technologies focused on agroforestry, water efficiency and reuse. This includes biobanks, water harvesting systems and drip irrigation. Plans also involve establishing a native plant nursery and an agroforestry system to minimize water loss. These techniques will be implemented through a participatory process that encourages community ownership and raises awareness of water conservation, supported by a social worker and a dedicated team of architects and technicians from CIMBRA.
Founded in 2021 in Jujuy, Argentina, CIMBRA is a socio-environmental work cooperative composed of interdisciplinary technicians experienced in socio-productive projects. Committed to a sustainable future, CIMBRA employs participatory management systems that actively involve the community in design processes, creating alternative designs that reflect local identity and values.
CIMBRA’s approach is rooted in research and exploration of diverse alternatives, aiming to expand architectural practice while addressing social, ecological and economic inequalities. The cooperative emphasizes the participation and commitment of local actors, empowering communities to articulate their aspirations and life projects. This methodology challenges the notion that rural habitat studies are merely obstacles to standardized housing solutions.
The complexities of rural life are often overlooked by systems impacted by the social stigmatization of marginalized populations. Recognizing the significance of anonymous peasant and Indigenous architectures is vital as valuation processes evolve. By establishing frameworks that appreciate regional architectural diversity, CIMBRA fosters co-participatory experiences that position communities as key actors in developing identity-based programmes and projects tailored to their specific needs.
CIMBRA also prioritizes the participatory management of social habitats, reinforcing regional trades and artisanal practices. This methodology highlights the importance of integrating vernacular knowledge in dialogues between technical teams and local stakeholders, representing a transdisciplinary approach to interpreting traditional architecture. Through these efforts, CIMBRA contributes to a more inclusive and equitable architectural practice that resonates with the unique characteristics of local communities.
CIMBRA’s commitment to situated design and appropriate solutions redefines the framework of identity. By basing proposals on participatory management of social habitats, the organization empowers local actors to become designers of their interventions. Action-based research highlights local knowledge, showcasing vernacular architecture as an alternative to global modernity.
The prize money will be used to enhance the community centre with complementary technologies that promote agroecological production, including the implementation of various social technologies focused on agroforestry, agroecology, water efficiency and reuse.
- Information for the project text was provided by Cooperativa CIMBRA -
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Advisory Committee Statement
The ‘Community Added Value Center’ receives the award for Local Scale for its inclusive and innovative approach to optimizing water usage through harvesting systems and a plant nursery. The knowledge of experts is used to help the community amid agricultural competition, fostering economic autonomy and offering alternative strategies for gardening and local cultivation. The beautiful building was inspired by the characteristics of the local ranches.