Type: Housing Team:     Design // Aura Mena     Consulting // Erick Torres + Alfredo Maul Size: 52 m2 Status: Proposal PROPOSAL OF LOW COST HOUSING WITH ALTERNATIVE BUILDING MATERIALS FOR “EL ALGODONAL” GUATEMALA CITYLidia and her husband Dionicio Garcia, recieved as an inheritage the site where they built their home 24 years ago. The original site was divided in 7, for all the siblings to have an area aproximately of 110m2 each. The site is located in El Algodonal, an Urban Settlement located in the borders of Zone 11 of Guatemala City. This is the place where they have raised their children and where they want to grow old. The Garcia family has an approximate income of Q3,500 per month, or the equivalent of $460 dollars. Their level of education is middle school, but all the men of the family learn a trade - they are Blacksmiths. 

The proposal has two stories, the first floor is a social area and the second floor for private space. The goal is to reduce the construction footprint and increase the pervious area. It is conceived that this house can be a prototype made in two phases, depending on the necesities of the family. For example, the first floor can be used as a “Studio” for a just married couple and later it can be vertically expanded. The two phases have a total of 52 m2 and a cost of $13,800.00. The green area is not only aesthetic but productive, in order to provide alternatives to the nutrition of the family as well as another economic income. The stairs are situated in the exterior so the users can have more interior space, this also helps to future expansions. In order to create thermal comfort, passive solutions are integrated such as: manual windows, eaves, orientation, white colors, insulation and others. 

Metal structures give flexibility to users to adapt the enclosures materials according to their budget. By having a module and guide of floor plans, they will have a guide to plan their homes. The dimension of the structure is based on pre-fabric materials available in the Guatemalan market, this helps to reduce the construction debris and facilitate the assembling and reduce timing. Both phases can be built in approximately 14 weeks. The principal structure is made of metal because the family are blacksmiths, in this way they can be part of the construction of their house by providing workforce as well as learning the prototype. This proposal can be replicated on other sites nearby, in order to improve the urban character of El Algodonal, but the most important to improve the quality of life of people.  

Graduation project to obtain the Bachelor Degree in Architecture. Third place in the contest “First Contest For Social Housing” organized by Cementos Progreso and the Construction Chamber fo Guatemala.