Refuge Site Description Minus Site Plan
A description of the Refugio for Isabel´s input and to describe future site construction and Rebecca´s current work here...
´This may prove a bit difficult but I will attempt to explain some information about the site and feel free to ask as many questions as you want! It is incredibly difficult to do any work on the plans here as I constantly have half a dozen little monkies pulling me away from my work! I think that most of my work will have to take place when I get back to the States, so for now, I mostly study the site, talk with the local Architect, study local materials and plants and learn more about what the people here want and need.
To begin with, the plans that you have seen...the buildings are either completely new or additions to existing structures. The existing buildings will have newly built second floors now to house more children and to provide space for additional volunteers. For the most part the first floors will provide space for community workshop spaces, gathering spaces for the children, kitchens, libraries, dining areas, administration, and classrooms.
Beginning with the ´PLANTA GENERAL 1-100 PRIMER PISO´ sheet...(North is in the upper right hand corner of the plan)
In the lower left the ´Taller´ is essentially a community room or gathering workshop for the children and community and will probably host things like performances and community educational classes. Outside, the ´Miradors´ are open air patios that have an overhead structure...these can be designed as seen fit, in fact, suggestions can be made to any and all of the development for that matter as they are very open to my comments. There are no plans for a second story for this building.
The existing building above the ´Taller´ entitled Almacen (primarily storage space), Comedor (dining area), Cocina (Kitchen), Biblioteca (library) won´t have a second floor either and does have an overhead structure proposed. This building is currently used as the primary meeting space for the children and is very important as it is where all of the little ones gather for absolutely everything, meals are a hugely important gathering time for them.
Above that in plan are existing bathrooms for the girls and boys with the primary drinking water source located outside of it (to its right), designated by a double square on the plan.
Above the bathrooms, there is the existing buildings, currently being used as dormitories for the girls which will become storage rooms (Almecen) and class room space (Salon de Clase) on the first floor. The second floor to this building will be all dormitory space and bathrooms for the children.
This building shares an open air hallway and staircase with the building to its right which will be solely used as dormitories and bathrooms for the children, both floors. There are proposed overhead structures for these buildings as you can see on the plan.
Above the dormitories, you will see a ´Silo´ designated on the plan. This is currently an outhouse or bathroom that is no longer in use and I will propose that it is filled in and taken down as it is no longer necessary.
Above the ´Silo´ is a lovely ´Rotunda´ placed upon several terraces of earth and built stone walls. This ´Rotunda´ serves as an outdoor classroom and entertainment area (our morning yoga sessions!) for the children and is definitley a highlight for the site. There is opportunity all around it, however, for additions and plantings, etc. Not shown on the plan is a stairway that enters the rotunda through the terracing entering from the NE.
Above the ´Rotunda´ is a ´Chancheria´ which translates to a pig sty...I will also try to discourage this idea as it is really the last thing the kids need here...I may suggest a place for chickens so that the children can collect fresh eggs instead...Several of these children shared sleeping space with pigs in the past, its the last thing that they need here!
Moving to the right of the ´Rotunda´ is the ´Pozo´ which is an existing well that contains polluted water that can be used to water plants and trees on site. We can run a relatively simple drip irrigation system to vegetation.
To its right is a proposed multi use sports field....the kids adore sports of all kind, especially volleyball, basketball, and soccer. They also have a trampoline that was donated to the refuge that will need to be properly located.
At the far right of the plan, below the sports field is an eternally locked entry gate onto the site and the entire site is surrounded by a brick wall that is about 15 feet high for security reasons. I would like to see this gate used as the only car access to the site, if they insist on a need it for that, with parking for a possible 1-3 cars (I am trying very hard to keep cars offsite, but it is being argued!)
Below the gate is a new building that will be used for dormitories and bathrooms, both the first and second floors. Off to the right of, and connected to the dormitory space will be another large event space-classroom area (Salon de Juegos) with its corresponding overhead structures.
This dormitory building will similarly share an open air hallway and stairway with the building located below it in plan. This is an existing building that will be reconstructed with a second floor that will house volunteers and volunteer space. The first floor of the building will be for administration, reception areas, meeting spaces, classroom space, and have an additional dining area and kitchen for the children.
In plan there are two additional rooms shown that have been decided against. One is labeled as ´Tienda´ (originally proposed as a shop for the children to sell baked goods, though this would have meant that they unfairly got up each morning at about 3am to bake!), the other room is located to its left. These, along with this gate entry will be removed from the plan and become an additional garden (´jardin´) space for shade and quite activities and relaxation.
Finally, to the left of this administration building is the current primary entrance to the site, a.k.a. the front door and main street address.
As to the open spaces and the needs here...
The primary courtyard is, of course, located in the middle of all of the new and proposed buildings. This is were the children spend the majority of thier outdoor time. Aside from a great place for the kids, I envision a plaza area, seating and shade structures, with paving material (to cut down on all of the dirt, dust and pests, including Scorpions!) and a possible water feature, etc. It is such a lovely entry possibility, being the first thing that everyone sees upon waking and entering the site.
The open space between the children´s dormitories, the sports field and the entry gate is currently used for the children´s sports field so will now be an opportunity to design, keeping in mind that we may need to, unfortunately, make some space for a couple of cars in this area.
The entire area to the top of the plan, where the ´Rotunda´, the ´Pozo´, and the sports field are located are filled with various fruit trees, this area would benifit greatly from a redesign, of course, and all fruit trees can be relocated easily enough. They have bananas, papaya, mango, etc. etc.
I would love to provide them with all sorts of fruit and vegetable producing plants, both for food production and educational purposes, so I want to propose a vegetable-herb garden which would most likely be located along the terraces of the ´Rotunda´ or below it where the ´Silo´ is currently located.
The entire site has a very slight and even slope (maybe 2%) from the top of the plan to the bottom (in general NW to SW). The soil is very, very bad and most likely highly polluted as all of Zapallal (including the refuge) is built on top of a cemetary which means that all digging on site will unbury loads of skeletons which will need to be discreetly relocated.
There is currently very little (in fact close to none) ground cover and paving and I really want to add a bunch of it because the dirt and dust are incredibly difficult to keep up with and the children and facilities are constantly filthy as a result.
I have uploaded many photos (not really proper site photos, but they might help a bit) of the refuge and children onto my flickr site if you want to review what the place looks like a bit and hope to have additional photos transfered shortly to cd´s so that I can do the same with the proper site photos I have taken recently.
I envision loads of bright colour, Luis Barragon, loads of excitment, art work, Peruvian colours and culture, flower gardens, roof top gardens (they are all accessible and currently host lines for laundry drying), perhaps a bamboo climbing structure or enchanted forest, tree house, interactive, etc....
As to plant materials...I am researching further but they seem very similar to Californian coastal plants and opportunity and need for them is good. The sites enclosing walls are awfully ugly and though the murals that have been painted on some of them in the past were a great idea, they are incredibly difficult to maintain so I think covering them with something like Bouganvillea would be great, providing a living fence with tons of bright colour that is absolutley resiliant to constant attack of these little monkies!
As far as material, everything must be absolutely dirt cheap, recycling materials would be great, as there is very little money to spend. There is a local paving stone, deep grey in colour, slate like colour, that is readily available. Much concrete, bamboo, and adobe brick that has a lovely deep red or grey colour made from the local earth. I will work on getting other materials donated to the refuge for construction as well.
...And that´s the nuts and bolts of it!´
´This may prove a bit difficult but I will attempt to explain some information about the site and feel free to ask as many questions as you want! It is incredibly difficult to do any work on the plans here as I constantly have half a dozen little monkies pulling me away from my work! I think that most of my work will have to take place when I get back to the States, so for now, I mostly study the site, talk with the local Architect, study local materials and plants and learn more about what the people here want and need.
To begin with, the plans that you have seen...the buildings are either completely new or additions to existing structures. The existing buildings will have newly built second floors now to house more children and to provide space for additional volunteers. For the most part the first floors will provide space for community workshop spaces, gathering spaces for the children, kitchens, libraries, dining areas, administration, and classrooms.
Beginning with the ´PLANTA GENERAL 1-100 PRIMER PISO´ sheet...(North is in the upper right hand corner of the plan)
In the lower left the ´Taller´ is essentially a community room or gathering workshop for the children and community and will probably host things like performances and community educational classes. Outside, the ´Miradors´ are open air patios that have an overhead structure...these can be designed as seen fit, in fact, suggestions can be made to any and all of the development for that matter as they are very open to my comments. There are no plans for a second story for this building.
The existing building above the ´Taller´ entitled Almacen (primarily storage space), Comedor (dining area), Cocina (Kitchen), Biblioteca (library) won´t have a second floor either and does have an overhead structure proposed. This building is currently used as the primary meeting space for the children and is very important as it is where all of the little ones gather for absolutely everything, meals are a hugely important gathering time for them.
Above that in plan are existing bathrooms for the girls and boys with the primary drinking water source located outside of it (to its right), designated by a double square on the plan.
Above the bathrooms, there is the existing buildings, currently being used as dormitories for the girls which will become storage rooms (Almecen) and class room space (Salon de Clase) on the first floor. The second floor to this building will be all dormitory space and bathrooms for the children.
This building shares an open air hallway and staircase with the building to its right which will be solely used as dormitories and bathrooms for the children, both floors. There are proposed overhead structures for these buildings as you can see on the plan.
Above the dormitories, you will see a ´Silo´ designated on the plan. This is currently an outhouse or bathroom that is no longer in use and I will propose that it is filled in and taken down as it is no longer necessary.
Above the ´Silo´ is a lovely ´Rotunda´ placed upon several terraces of earth and built stone walls. This ´Rotunda´ serves as an outdoor classroom and entertainment area (our morning yoga sessions!) for the children and is definitley a highlight for the site. There is opportunity all around it, however, for additions and plantings, etc. Not shown on the plan is a stairway that enters the rotunda through the terracing entering from the NE.
Above the ´Rotunda´ is a ´Chancheria´ which translates to a pig sty...I will also try to discourage this idea as it is really the last thing the kids need here...I may suggest a place for chickens so that the children can collect fresh eggs instead...Several of these children shared sleeping space with pigs in the past, its the last thing that they need here!
Moving to the right of the ´Rotunda´ is the ´Pozo´ which is an existing well that contains polluted water that can be used to water plants and trees on site. We can run a relatively simple drip irrigation system to vegetation.
To its right is a proposed multi use sports field....the kids adore sports of all kind, especially volleyball, basketball, and soccer. They also have a trampoline that was donated to the refuge that will need to be properly located.
At the far right of the plan, below the sports field is an eternally locked entry gate onto the site and the entire site is surrounded by a brick wall that is about 15 feet high for security reasons. I would like to see this gate used as the only car access to the site, if they insist on a need it for that, with parking for a possible 1-3 cars (I am trying very hard to keep cars offsite, but it is being argued!)
Below the gate is a new building that will be used for dormitories and bathrooms, both the first and second floors. Off to the right of, and connected to the dormitory space will be another large event space-classroom area (Salon de Juegos) with its corresponding overhead structures.
This dormitory building will similarly share an open air hallway and stairway with the building located below it in plan. This is an existing building that will be reconstructed with a second floor that will house volunteers and volunteer space. The first floor of the building will be for administration, reception areas, meeting spaces, classroom space, and have an additional dining area and kitchen for the children.
In plan there are two additional rooms shown that have been decided against. One is labeled as ´Tienda´ (originally proposed as a shop for the children to sell baked goods, though this would have meant that they unfairly got up each morning at about 3am to bake!), the other room is located to its left. These, along with this gate entry will be removed from the plan and become an additional garden (´jardin´) space for shade and quite activities and relaxation.
Finally, to the left of this administration building is the current primary entrance to the site, a.k.a. the front door and main street address.
As to the open spaces and the needs here...
The primary courtyard is, of course, located in the middle of all of the new and proposed buildings. This is were the children spend the majority of thier outdoor time. Aside from a great place for the kids, I envision a plaza area, seating and shade structures, with paving material (to cut down on all of the dirt, dust and pests, including Scorpions!) and a possible water feature, etc. It is such a lovely entry possibility, being the first thing that everyone sees upon waking and entering the site.
The open space between the children´s dormitories, the sports field and the entry gate is currently used for the children´s sports field so will now be an opportunity to design, keeping in mind that we may need to, unfortunately, make some space for a couple of cars in this area.
The entire area to the top of the plan, where the ´Rotunda´, the ´Pozo´, and the sports field are located are filled with various fruit trees, this area would benifit greatly from a redesign, of course, and all fruit trees can be relocated easily enough. They have bananas, papaya, mango, etc. etc.
I would love to provide them with all sorts of fruit and vegetable producing plants, both for food production and educational purposes, so I want to propose a vegetable-herb garden which would most likely be located along the terraces of the ´Rotunda´ or below it where the ´Silo´ is currently located.
The entire site has a very slight and even slope (maybe 2%) from the top of the plan to the bottom (in general NW to SW). The soil is very, very bad and most likely highly polluted as all of Zapallal (including the refuge) is built on top of a cemetary which means that all digging on site will unbury loads of skeletons which will need to be discreetly relocated.
There is currently very little (in fact close to none) ground cover and paving and I really want to add a bunch of it because the dirt and dust are incredibly difficult to keep up with and the children and facilities are constantly filthy as a result.
I have uploaded many photos (not really proper site photos, but they might help a bit) of the refuge and children onto my flickr site if you want to review what the place looks like a bit and hope to have additional photos transfered shortly to cd´s so that I can do the same with the proper site photos I have taken recently.
I envision loads of bright colour, Luis Barragon, loads of excitment, art work, Peruvian colours and culture, flower gardens, roof top gardens (they are all accessible and currently host lines for laundry drying), perhaps a bamboo climbing structure or enchanted forest, tree house, interactive, etc....
As to plant materials...I am researching further but they seem very similar to Californian coastal plants and opportunity and need for them is good. The sites enclosing walls are awfully ugly and though the murals that have been painted on some of them in the past were a great idea, they are incredibly difficult to maintain so I think covering them with something like Bouganvillea would be great, providing a living fence with tons of bright colour that is absolutley resiliant to constant attack of these little monkies!
As far as material, everything must be absolutely dirt cheap, recycling materials would be great, as there is very little money to spend. There is a local paving stone, deep grey in colour, slate like colour, that is readily available. Much concrete, bamboo, and adobe brick that has a lovely deep red or grey colour made from the local earth. I will work on getting other materials donated to the refuge for construction as well.
...And that´s the nuts and bolts of it!´
posted by Rebel at 10:40 AM
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