SANTA CRUZ

Residential | Commercial | Education | Urban Planning

Santa Cruz de la Sierra is the economic capital and biggest city of Bolivia. It is also the 14th fastest growing city in the world. Growing up in this city, I have always found the urban structure of the water canal fascinating and full of potential. The Ring-Housing project is a social housing proposal which transforms the empty 26km long “fourth ring” into a potential space for living, landscape and urban densification.
Currently empty, this space is an important factor of insecurity for the city. During the rainy season, the canal fills within just a few hours, empties soon after, and remains empty the rest of the year.

The project integrates the typical Bolivian courtyards found within the city centre into the design. It aids housing affordability within the city, as opposed to the current segregation and horizontal growth of the city.

Traditional stacked clay roof tiles create an open unobstructed facade that adapts to the tropical weather and offers privacy when viewed from the outside. Timber slats make it possible to rearrange the rooms and adapt to the needs of the user. When open, all the spaces transform into a mass courtyard.

Independent student project | Masterthesis
Prof. Donatella Fioretti | Technische Universität Berlin
Project by C.E.Beckmann | R.Bauer

Location: Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia