House of Culture
Kay Pacha Park - Equinoctial Strip
The project is located in "Middle of the World City", Ecuador. The location is an iconic place in the world with approximately 400 thousand visitors per year. The population of the surrounding area, which adds up to 32 thousand inhabitants, unfortunately lacks facilities since most of the resources are directed to tourism. In order to promote the personal development of the members of this community, we propose improvements in the education and professional training team. Research has revealed that more than 81% of tourists who come to the city of Quito visit the Middle of the World monument, but there are 6 archaeological sites on the site that do not have the same impact. unfortunately all these places are private and the community does not benefit or is not represented in them.
As such, the goal is to create a house of culture that does not function only as a museum but is also a center of expression and learning for the community.
The proposal includes an architectural detail based on pure forms: discreet on the outside but full of surprise and movement on the inside, being a nod to the environment where it is located.
The architectural implementation corresponds to the near and far external conditions in the landscape, rather than just the general urban structure and the connections with other neighboring structures. This project begins in a process of addition and not of subtraction. It brings together a series of obvious singularities (related to the environment) to produce a totality not evident in the face of an excessive expansion of elements.
All this constitutes a strategy to create a connection with the area through a constant circulation through it (related to the Equator Line). There are, of course, views of urban objects (like the Middle of the World Monument) but, at the same time, the real determinants are larger, timeless and universal objects, like the sunrise and sunset points over the hills, at 360 degrees. View of the sky, and the geographic diversity of the city and its surroundings.
The structure includes two parts: a substructure that employs foundation beams chosen due to the low bearing capacity of the soil in the area; and a superstructure that uses steel beams and columns, since these metallic elements will provide great flexibility and versatility for the construction of spaces of up to four heights.
Considering that the area is prone to telluric activity, shear walls were chosen for stairs and elevators. Furthermore, since most of the buildings would be at least partially underground, retaining walls with a concrete finish were used to ensure the safety of the building against earth pressure. They can also be considered aesthetic elements
A series of ramps are proposed that connect the different programs and levels within the building, being a space for living, and for the expression of man and nature. The further you enter the building, the more calm and private areas are found.
.
In the third block, a house of culture is formed, composed of different exhibition spaces and workshops where the community and the tourist can learn about the history and the different forms of art that occur in the Andean region. Exhibition halls, open stages, gardens and cultural tours make up the subsoil.
.
The upper levels of the south side of the construction are equipped with different arts workshops where music, painting, photography, sculpture, dance, film and theater classes are given, on the north side there are galleries and exhibition centers where it is shown the different communities that have settled in the Lulumbamba valley.
A program is sought that enhances the artistic qualities of the population and the expression of equinoctial culture, forming a space of connection between the monument (history), the population, and the tourist.
.
.
Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador.
Titling project.
Student: Byron Cadena.
Tutor: Manuel Uribe.
September 2017. Middle of the World City, Quito, Ecuador.