Federico Villanueva is an architect, educator and activist. Together with his partner, Josefina Baldo, he has been researching and working on projects in the barrios for over 30 years. Together they oversaw CONAVI (Consejo Nacional de la Vivienda - National Housing Council) from 1999-2002.
The following is a summary of Villanueva’s ideas and tactics for architects working in the barrios. It is based on an interview with Federico Villanueva at his home in Caracas. Through our conversation I was able to learn some of the knowledge and tactics which he has developed through his long experience.
The barrio is more common, more successful and more efficient: The barrio is often viewed as an aberration, but it is the barrios where more than half the people of Venezuela live. In reality it is the formal city which is strange. The barrios are also much more productive. Over the last 20 years the barrios have grown each year by an average of 3.1% almost double the growth rate of housing in the formal city of 1.6%!
Getting many horses to run together: The key to successful projects is to get government, community movements and trained professions such as architects to all go in the same direction at the same time. This requires delicate negotiation and careful combining of often very different agendas.
The Architect and the Community: The architect brings the knowledge of alternative structures, materials and processes and the skills to analyse technical factors, manage multiple agendas, to see the big picture and coordinate individual actions. The community brings the knowledge of local conditions and relationships as well as the skills derived from constantly reconstructing their homes and facilities. Neither of these should be underestimated.
Architects at invasion: If it is possible the best time for the architect to get involved is during the initial land invasion. If the architect can have input at this initial stage then things will not need to be redone later.
Counting the stairs: The basis of any work must be a detailed study. Analyse the area, record the dimensions of every house, the slope of every road and path, the number of streetlights and stairs, the width and length of all the drainage channels. Then, when proposing improvements everything can be calculated and budgeted for: the length of electric cable required for new street lights, the amount of concrete to pave new pathways and so on.
Starting small: After the detailed study, begin with a small project: one house, one day-care centre. The people may be dubious at first but once they begin to see results they will be much more open to get involved. A successful small project can create an explosion in community participation.
Staying separate: When working with a community is it important to remain professional, don’t try to become part of the community. Treat them as you would any other client, explain the alternatives then leave the room. If you get too involved you may start to influence the outcome.
Build before you demolish: If relocation or rehousing is unavoidable, make sure you build the substitution house before you tear the old one down.
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