Jardin Maloka
by Colectivo Aula Viva + APLO
Inirida, Guainia, Colombia
Project details
Year
2024
Project year
2022
Land area
55 m²
Project website
Location
Team credits
collective
- Colectivo Aula Viva -
Pedro Aparicio-Llorente,
Francy Mendez,
Nicolas Paris,
Juliana Steiner,
Arlex Tovar,
Rudy Villegas,
Melvino Yavinape.
architects
- APLO -
Pedro Aparicio-Llorente,
Angel A Angele,
Daniel Blanco.
Inirida, Guainía, Colombia, is located in a geopolitically sensitive area on the border with Venezuela that is renowned for its rich biodiversity and freshwater ecosystems. As part of a pedagogical initiative called Jardín Maloka, the project involves the co-design and construction of the Aula Viva, or ‘Living Classroom’, a greenhouse for medicinal plants. This initiative connects students with the botanical knowledge of local indigenous communities, including the Puinave, Curripaco, Cubeo, Tucano, Yeral, Sikuani and Piapoco peoples, while fostering a sense of identity and pride.
Designed to enhance teaching and learning, the facility showcases local materials and traditional construction techniques, integrating the community’s cultural heritage into a modern educational environment. The architectural design emphasizes simplicity, functionality and aesthetic clarity, utilizing local wood and materials to create a thermally comfortable space.
The project promotes environmental awareness, community participation and holistic approaches to education. Involving local artisans and community members in the construction process strengthens social bonds and empowers residents. Ultimately, Jardín Maloka serves as a model for sustainable development, nurturing resilience and promoting the integration of traditional knowledge with contemporary practices to create an inclusive space that addresses the needs of all community members.
The architecture of the project draws inspiration from the shabono structure, a traditional dwelling of the Venezuelan/Brazilian Yanomami community of the Orinoco. Locally sourced materials from the Morocoto community contribute to a low-impact structure that utilizes the area's natural resources. The roof incorporates the chiqui-chiqui palm, facilitating an exchange of local knowledge throughout the construction process.
The project was realized by a collaborative team of local leaders, architects, artists, and curators. Led by architect and APLO director Pedro Aparicio-Llorente, who employs multi-species technologies, APLO is an architecture workshop based in Bogotá, Colombia, specializing in the design and construction of buildings and landscapes.
Situated on the grounds of the Custodio Rovira public school, the project brings together Indigenous educators Rudy Villegas and Melvino Yavinape, architect Pedro Aparicio-Llorente, artist Nicolas Paris, and curator Juliana Steiner to create an educational platform. Jardin Maloka began digitally through a WhatsApp group that shared a visual archive of the site.
The Jardín Maloka project aims to reconnect youth with Indigenous botanical knowledge while addressing the socioeconomic challenges of the region. Founded by a diverse team, the initiative follows the pedagogical approach titled ‘own education’.
Recognizing the importance of collaboration, the project engages local artisans and community members in the design and construction process and connects students with their environment, their stories, their language and their ancestral knowledge. Workshops offer insight and encourage students to share their experiences and knowledge while building a sense of belonging. The space not only serves educational purposes but also promotes environmental awareness and sustainability in a geopolitically sensitive area.
As Jardín Maloka embeds itself within the curriculum of the Custodio Rovira School, it aspires to influence national educational policies, opening doors to local knowledge in public education. By blending architecture, art and indigenous wisdom, the project redefines space as a medium for thought and community connection, fostering resilience and cultural preservation for future generations.
Jardín Maloka serves as a transformative space that embodies the potential of architecture to facilitate social and ecological resilience, emphasizing the significance of collective learning and active participation in shaping a sustainable future for the community.
The prize money will fund the establishment of Casa Yuca, an ancestral kitchen to be constructed on campus. This initiative aims to enhance teaching and learning through indigenous culinary traditions, offering students the opportunity to learn in their own environment and deepen their understanding of their immediate surroundings.
- Information for the project text was provided by Colectivo Aula Viva -
Image gallery
Advisory Committee Statement
‘Jardin Maloka’ receives the award for Local Scale for fostering direct and significant knowledge exchange about Indigenous community life and endemic plants in Colombia’s northern Amazon region. Situated on a campus, this educational project involves Indigenous teachers and professionals in the co-design and construction of the Aula Viva (Living Classroom): a greenhouse for medicinal plants where students can engage with botanical knowledge.