The low density and lack of public spaces are two major factors that are detrimental to the urban quality of Córdoba, Argentina. Careful analysis of the Güemes neighborhood identified the need to suggest a series of measures to improve current conditions. 

Adaptable and multipliable buildings for flexible use are proposed, including a range of provisions to reduce the environmental impact of the project: green roofs, rainwater collection, grey water for irrigation, solar energy production, and the use of recycled materials for construction.

The initiative is conceived as a public-private partnership creating answers to heal and improve the neighborhood.

Addressing sustainability at the urban scale –

Proficiency: Density is an essential factor for sustainable development of cities. Likewise, the importance of public green space is recognized, therefore the design proposed is re-urbanization as a mix of housing and public spaces as an indivisible entity.

People: The starting point is consideration of the public space as an indicator of urban quality. The project asserts that cities with more public spaces are more just and equitable: therefore porous fabrics that allow an open plot within the city and create community spaces are generated. A logic of urban interstices is prosposed, that take advantage of the empty and generate spaces of encounter and expansion.

Planet: Sustainable city planning involves an intervention that preserves environmental quality, to reduce energy consumption through efficient design: As a consequence the need to incorporate in the sector “party wall equipment” (infrastructural facilities) which complement the function of this strategy is proposed.

Prosperity: The best way to build the city is public/private. The public-private management can combine logical and legitimate economic return for investment groups, and social and environmental benefits required by local government.

Progress: Latin American cities share qualities and similar problems. The need of consolidation and densification of neighborhoods and sectors that are partially occupied is proposed. A friendly and ethical urbanism where public green spaces function as a contribution to identity and social integration is designed.

Addressing sustainability at the architectural scale –

Proficiency: An architecture to produce eco-sustainable projects is advanced which aims to improve existing contextual conditions conducive to the sector, and in turn, respond to the identity and idiosyncrasy of its inhabitants.

People: It is necessary to promote social mixture in the different sectors of the city via a residential prototype that has different forms of housing, designed to meet different family and social requirements.

Planet: A building model that allows flexibility and efficient use of resources and means is used.