Brainstorming House: Informal Community Center

Arquitectura Expandida, Energy and sustainability, expanding design practices, Low Density, Politics and economics, Project, Southern Coexistences

Architect’s role, Bogotá, Co-management strategies, Collaborative Architecture, Collaborative work, Colombia, Community, Community Facilities, Empowering society, Empowerment machines, Energetic Approach, Informal settlements, Informality, Political & Economic Approach, Project, Public buildings, Self-management, Social contributor, South America, Southern Coexistences

The Brainstorming House, La Casa de le Lluvia [de ideas], is conceived as a cultural and environmental community center in a context of informality and scarce investment from municipal authorities. Since its conception, the process has been promoted by several community leaders and collectives, from seven neighborhoods around the Fucha River in the eastern hills of Bogotá. They are constantly promoting manifold small-scaled projects aimed at improving the neighborhood: from sanitation to reforestation, waste cleanup and land removal – the kind of socio-spatial improvements that should be provided/supported by the municipality. However, due to the legal constraints affecting the entire neighborhood (a legalization process that has lasted over 20 years), local authorities are reluctant to execute major (and urgent) infrastructure projects.