Self-Build as a Strategy for Participatory Construction Processes Recetas Urbanas
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Sciknow Publications Ltd. AE 2014, 2(2):21-27
Architecture & Environment DOI: 10.12966/ae.05.02.2014
©Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)
Self-Build as a Strategy for Participatory Construction Processes
Recetas Urbanas
Santiago Cirugeda Parejo*
Architect and Founder, Recetas Urbanas Architecture Office, Seville, Spain
*Corresponding author (Email: sc@recetasurbanas.net)
Abstract - To Self-build is seen by us as a strategy that allows architects to answer to the needs of the groups and the contexts
which we work with. It is a model that guarantees the involvement of people in the creation and construction of their spaces.
Along with it have some important characteristics such as: fast development, efficiency, appropriation, participatory strategies,
creation of networks, the possibility of re-use materials, development of pedagogical activities and its low cost implementation.
This construction model is an option that needed to rise up again after its disappearance for the excessive legalization of
constructive processes. And, mainly needed to rise up as a tool against the creation of more conservative and less critical citizens
vision, that the previous situation is being developing.
Keywords - Architecture, Self-Build, Re-used, Participatory Construction, Collective Groups, Metallic Structure, Low-Cost
Due this, and the current Spanish crisis situation, several
1. Introduction groups of people (mainly young ones) decided to organize and
create a network based on relationships and common
Since 1996 a solitary practical and research work was being objectives to act efficiently in response to this context.
developed. Its main objective was the implementation of Furthermore, Recetas Urbanas along with the other collective
transgressive projects in different areas of the urban and groups and the Arquitecturas Colectivas Network are
critical reality. The way to do it was demanding an urgent answering to it developing: joint strategies, legal and
review of the current planning city legislation. On behalf of it, architectural resources, as well as, social mediation tools.
the strategy adopted was to implement projects that were from Some of these strategies and resources, ending asking for a
a systematic squatting of public spaces with containers until way in which people can be involved and taking in account for
the construction of prosthesis for facades, courtyards, the creation and construction of their spaces. Besides, they
rooftops and even in an empty lot. For this reason, it was can be part of the solution of making those processes efficient,
necessary to negotiate all the time between legal and illegal low cost and sustainable (under some parameters). This need
elements to be able to notice the controlling framework in was raised due the disappearance of the self-build models for
which the current society is submerged. the excessive legalization of constructive processes; a
In 2003, the solitary work was put behind and changed for situation that is also creating a more conservative and less
collective dynamic. Then, Recetas Urbanas was founded as an critical citizens vision.
the Architecture Office that aim to recover the critical Due to the aforementioned, the self-build model was
conscience of the society against the “official city planning” decided to be implemented in each of the projects that we
which is being manipulated by the economical and political developed; and, to make it possible was necessary to study
agents and the citizens lost their response and participation construction systems/elements that would have the following
capacity. characteristics: easy to carry and fast to do, modular, reusable,
Nowadays, it is necessary to learn and act fast. The reason as well as, portable. Looking-for these specific elements,
for this is that the institutions and representatives against this Recetas Urbanas reached its particular self-build
social and innovative processes, are able to know perfectly methodology which it also allows to: create workshops to
what to do every day and they do not doubt at all about what prepare people about how to construct and use the tools and
they are doing. By consequence, they do not listen to people materials, the developing of documents and manual of what to
and do not try to include their needs and wishes on what is do and how, the use of high percentage of reused materials
being projected. The risk in developing social inter-locution is and a metallic modular structure done by Rehasa S.L.
on the possibility to lose the ability of the citizens to fight and Currently, this strategy is being developed and
propose.
22 Architecture & Environment (2014) 21-27
implemented by us and by several other collective groups. their self-supported characteristic, so it is not necessary
Here will be presented, four projects that clearly exemplified additional elements for it. However, since they are being
the nature and possibilities of the methodology (workshops, reused it was necessary to intervene their internal space to
materials, structure, manuals and people commitment); these adequate it for living.
projects are: El Niu, Las Arañas, Proyectalab and Aula
Abierta.
2. 1ST CASE - EL NIU, GIRONA,
SPAIN, 2008
El Niu (“The Nest” in Catalan) is a temporary architectural
intervention that was designed for the Bólit Art Center. It is
located on the rooftop of one of the Bólit spaces at La Rambla,
in a building that was a former police station. Currently, it is
considered a heritage protected building. The main objective
of it is to provide the Art Center with the necessary temporary
infrastructure to do its artistic research and interventions.
With a given budget as "guest artists", we develop all the
elements of it: design, implementation, construction Fig. 2. Placing the Containers on the Rooftop Metallic New
management, construction safety and civil responsibility. Structure, Girona
For its construction, we recycled four containers that were Furthermore, the containers were coated with leaf litter,
coming from Saragossa along with reused donated materials branches and Czechoslovakian camouflage fabrics to simulate
and elements -such as the access staircase that was given to us a nest, as can be seen in the Figure 3.
by Straddle3 whom also helped us with the construction
process-. The main metallic structure was done with the
Rehasa S.L modular system with beams and columns that
were not larger than 2.5 meters to make easy the self-build
process. The structure consisted in a platform of 8mx 5.32
meters -made by 15 units of beams VR-1000, 6 units of beams
VR-2500 and 10 units of V-2500. This platform was elevated
and supported to the roof with three columns MEGA-1000
creating like that two cantilevers -one to each side of the
platform-. These cantilevers were additionally sustained
through two tensors that are located at ¼ of the border of the
platform to the base of the column to each side. See Figure 1.
Fig. 3. Construction of the “Double Skin” of the Containers,
Girona.
What distinguishes El Niu from all the other spaces that
belong to the Bólit (as well as from the other institutional
spaces related to artistic practices) is that it works not just as
an exhibition and production space, but also, as a temporary
residence for artists (for national and overseas artists invited
by the Bólit for short stays). The immediate consequence of
this action is that the operating hours do not restrict El Niu, an
aspect which results unusual for an institutional space. See
project completed in Figure 4.
Fig. 1. El Niu Structural Platform Base on the Rooftop,
Girona
After constructing the structural base to the project, the
four container units were located using a crane that allowed us
to move the containers from the ground floor to the rooftop, as
can be seen in Figure 2. The advantages of the containers are
Architecture & Environment (2014) 21-27 23
Arañas have the capacity of being installed and uninstalled in
one day. With just two people, one construction stair set and a
medium size crane, it is easy to construct it. However, it is
recommended to do it with more people since the experience
and the action of doing it are worth it. Moreover, another
important characteristic of them is how easy is to put together
their metallic structural pieces. If you follow every step of the
plans, self-build manuals and you take care of the
construction safety recommendations, it is possible to create a
new complete building in a record time, a building which will
be able to be used immediately.
The MEGA system of Rehasa S.L is the main element in
the structure. It conforms also the frame which will be
elevated with the medium size crane to add it four provisional
“vertical legs” to establish the level and stabilize the structure.
Fig. 4. El Niu Project Completed, Girona
After, the six or eight final “MEGA legs” will be installed. To
At the end, the project for the residencies was not done as do so, it is recommended to look for the gravity centre of it to
it was planned, because, it was forbidden for the artists and be able to pull up of it with the element of vertical
researchers to sleep there. This action was the result of the “anchorage”. In this way, you avoid some problems on the
fear of the public institutions (that repeats in several projects) moment to join them. Each of those “MEGA legs” is made by
to the fact of mixing creativity and production with the a “flexible” support to the ground with the jack -gato- MEGA
housing component. piece. Following it is added a metallic angle called Araña
Also, it was not possible for the project to reach the two angle; after comes one MEGA-2500 element followed by a
years of function that were planned from the beginning, and at two MEGA-1000 and one MEGA connector. Those legs
the end, the period was shorten to one year and a half. The arrived to a “ring” made by four to six units of MEGA
reason for this was the repeated fights and tensions between connectors, 4 to 7 units of MEGA-2500, 2 to 5 units of
the different political parties and the public. Then, as part of MEGA-1000. Once it is finalized the setting-up of the
the line of work of Recetas Urbanas about reusing materials, it “MEGA legs”, the four vertical temporary pillars have to be
was decided that once the project would be removed from the withdrawn. At the end, four tensors are installed to improve
Bólit rooftop, the four containers that are part of it were move the stability of the structure once the containers would be
to a new self-managed space created by the Aoscuras placed with the medium size crane. See Figure 5. La Araña
collective in Pradejón, La Rioja, where you can find them easy construction has been allowed us to change easily it/their
today. location, and being able to play with the times of the legal and
bureaucratic procedures.
3. 2ND CASE – LAS ARAÑAS,
ITINERANT, 2008
Las Arañas (The Spiders) are several projects which bring
together the prosthesis of buildings and the occupation of
empty lots. The idea is for the prosthesis to gain independence
to occupy spaces whether they are interior or exterior, public
or private. Las Arañas can be used in different ways since they
do not consume available ground space and along with it, the
area underneath them remains open for free movement and/or
for the development of other uses. They can stand alone and
be a building by themselves alone or they can be used in
conjunction with another building; connected to it on a
logistical level but still remaining physically separate.
The first prototype was created with the collaboration with Fig. 5. Construction of The Little Spider for an exhibition at
Julio Barba, engineer and entrepreneur of REHASA the Espacio Iniciarte, Seville Spain
Estructuras S.L. An experimentation opportunity was raised For the first prototype, two containers were recovered
to intervene at a different scale a system originally devised to from Saragossa. Those were part of a six containers donation
stabilize buildings undergoing renovation. The enthusiasm that was given to the Polytechnic University of Valencia
and involvement of Rehasa S.L was such that the company (UPV for its abbreviation in Spanish). UPV intended to create
yielded the structures of the first three built Arañas. Las a self-managing and participative space linked to a student
24 Architecture & Environment (2014) 21-27
collective.
This first prototype was constructed in a lot that belongs to
the Property of the Innovation Ministry of the Government of
Andalusia, located in the island of “la Cartuja”. The site had
housed the Austrian Pavilion during the Expo’92 but was in
disuse since it was taken down. Its transfer was negotiated to
set up a mobile cultural facility, Pista Digital. An agreement
was settled for temporary occupation of public ground with a
rental contract. Seeing as we could rely on this ground, we
decided to release one of the containers being stored by UPV
and to set up the studio office next to the Pista Digital
construction site. See Figure 6.
Fig. 8. The Spider at La Carpa – Espacio Cultural as Office of
Varuma Teatro, Seville
4. 3RD CASE – PROYECTALAB,
BENICASSIM, SPAIN, 2010
The Nau de les Arts / Proyecta Lab is a multidisciplinary
space, conceived to host different cultural activities. It was
created with the will of solving the need for a creative and
discussion space for collective groups and people with no
economical resources. Besides it, the project incorporates new
spaces for the education and production, as well as, two
Fig. 6. The Spider for the Recetas Urbanas Office at La
housing spaces for the guest artists. It was initiative of the
Cartuja, Seville
Association Proyecta and built by Recetas Urbanas in
Another small spider, was constructed for the Espacio collaboration with Rehasa Estructuras S.L., Lucas
Iniciarte with a new container was acquired to build a small Construcción and with the help of numerous collective groups
spider as an art object to illustrate part of Recetas Urbanas from Arquitecturas Colectivas network. The space was
work during the retrospective exhibition “La socialización del promoted by the municipality of Benicassim and it starts with
arte o el sistema de protección de testigos”. Las Arañas were the re-utilization of six containers that came from Saragossa
constructed in other several spaces like: for the second and those were property of the project Trucks, Containers &
meeting of the Arquitecturas Colectivas Network at Sant Pere Collectives. The work was based on the rehabilitation and
de Torelló(2009), for the opening of the MAXXI museum in improvement of an old Renfe train station on which was
Rome (2010) see Figure 7, at the Plaza del Rey in Tarragona added prosthesis made of containers, in order to make it able
(2011) and at the new project of La Carpa in Seville (2011). to host new uses. With this process of collective and self-build
See Figure 8. construction, space and materials being re-used, it was fast
and low-cost to obtain a new facility.
Equipped with different classes, courses, meeting rooms,
warehouses and residences for artists, the space with nearly
400m2 would have hosts, under a shared management model,
the activities of Nau de les Arts during winter and the new
activities during summer; making possible the appearance of
multiple uses in the same infrastructure. Proyectalab has an
independent general platform of 27 m x 6.8m that pops-up,
and it is just connected in two middle points to the original
building. This platform is made with the MEGA system using
mainly metallic beams of reference MEGA-1000 pieces and
occasionally MEGA-2500. It will be supported by 15 metallic
columns of made of two units reference VR-1000 each. See
Figure 9.
Fig. 7. The Spider at the MAXXI Museum, Rome
Architecture & Environment (2014) 21-27 25
Besides it, some sun isolation was made to avoid that the
containers got overheated during summer time. For this, some
of the recovered and re-used construction coffers were used to
create a large surface that were placed on top of the containers
leaving a space between both objects with the objective of
create an air bubble that allows the heat to dissipate.
We consider accurate and low-cost the management
evaluation for the 200,000€ invested on the upgrading of the
warehouse and the construction of the new spaces (including
VAT, fees, insurance, local companies subcontracting and
expenses of the participant collective).
One of the worst situations the project had to go through
was to confront between the council elections and the
eventual change of the political party. It caused that, despite
Fig. 9. Construction Process of the General Platform of the the project was completed, the building was temporary closed
Proyectalab, Benicassim and its name was changed; as well as, a severe media attack
against it.
The support to the ground is made with jacks. It held three Currently, the space is partially open to the public. It is
main spaces created each with two containers for a total of six being closed during the summer time and it is forbidden its
containers on top of it, apart of a metallic gangway made with use to numerous local collective groups that requested it to the
a metallic matrix (Tramex®). See Figure 10. The containers city hall, an action that is conducting to a marginalization of
were placed using a medium size crane. See Figure 11. Also their cultural practices. See Figure 12.
were installed some metallic staircase as vertical circulations
and connexions with the ground floor.
Fig. 12. Project Proyectalab General View, Benicassim
Fig. 10. Detail of the Structure and the Tramex Gangway,
Benicassim 5. 4TH CASE – AULA ABIERTA,
SEVILLE, SPAIN, 2012
Aula Abierta is a self-built and self-funded space. The project
rose as a response to the need for a physical and reflective
working space. It started in 2004 assembling a classroom
made of materials gathered by dismantling a building that was
set to be demolished. This construction process was made by a
group of students from the University of Granada and Recetas
Urbanas.
In January 2012, the University decide to dismantle this
project and the materials were transported to Seville, where it
was received by Recetas Urbanas once more time. After
installing the base structure on the ground, in the first week of
March 2012, we initiated an self-build workshop organized by
Fig. 11. Placing of Containers on the Platform with the the collective LaMatraka. The central point in all the Aula
Medium Size Crane, Benicassim Abierta project, is that is being almost entirely reused its
26 Architecture & Environment (2014) 21-27
structure and materials; as well as, self-build in both cases
(Granada and Seville) by a large amount of young people
interested in new ways of doing architecture and new ways of
creating collaborative networks. See Figure 13.
Fig. 15. Image of the General Structure of Aula Abierta,
Seville, Photographer: Juan Gabriel Pelegrina
Today, Aula Abierta Sevilla is inscribed into an expanded
project called “La Carpa – Espacio Artístico”, which is the
Fig. 13. Recetas Urbanas and Straddle3 Self-Building the headquarter of Varuma Teatro and the future Circus School of
Structure of Aula Abierta, Seville. Photographer: Juan Andalusia. Its main purpose is to be an open space for groups
Gabriel Pelegrina that need to meet and rehearse, always with a cultural and
social objective. See Figure 16.
In the case of Seville, the construction process went on
with the help of several collective including
ElGatoconMoscas, La Jarapa, El Cuarteto Maravilla,
Conceptuar-te, Straddle3 and many more friends and
collaborators from different countries until the inauguration
of the project on 19th October 2012. See Figure14.
Fig. 16. Aula Abierta General View, Seville
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