Goyena Community Center

Project Type:

architecture

Project Mission/Goal:
ViviendasLeon's projects are fundamental works of architecture that are a vehicle for the development of a community. Development is both quantitative and qualitative: the community works with ViviendasLeon and the students who come periodically to join in the construction process. The result is not only a school, but a process that encourages understanding and empathy between people.
For the Goyena Community Center, ViviendasLeon worked closely with the architecture department of the University of San Francisco forming a unique partnership where the mission from both ends were based on social justice and sustainable development.

Project Description:
During the 2007-08 academic year the objective was that the students' design for the Goyena Community Center in Nicaragua would match the needs and expectations of the community. From the reaction of the Goyena community at the end of the summer 2008 program, it was clear that this had been accomplished. In the community's eyes, the coming reality of the community center promises a better future for Goyena's children and young adults. The community leaders emotionally shared that every need they had expressed in the Fall of 2007 was present in the building they were now helping to construct.

Video(s):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqnNczNgYoY

Links and Captions:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/20651242@N07/sets/72157613295381207/with/34...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/20651242@N07/collections/

CC: License
Project Details:
Project Location: Goyena, Nicaragua
Date(s):2007-2008
Project Phase: Rammed earth construction ongoing
Client: NGO ViviendasLeon and the community of Goyena, Nicaragua
User Client:
Description and Number of Beneficiaries/Users: the 80 families of Goyena, Nicaragua
Major Funding:
Concept/Lead Architect(s)/Designer(s): University Of San Francisco Community Design Outreach student team under the direction of Seth Wachtel, Program Director and Assistant Professor in the Department of Art + Architecture
Project Architect(s)/Designer(s): Nicaraguan Architect Don Tomas and NGO ViviendasLeon director Evan Markiewicz Structural Engineers:
Electrical/Mechanical Engineers:
Contractor/Manufacturer:
Additional Consultants:
Total Cost/Cost per Unit:unknown as project is a multi-year effort by the community
Area (if applicable): 4400 sq.ft.
Other:
Photo/Image Credit(s): Design Team
File Specifications:Vectorworks

Nominated by Ana Munoz

Location