Building the future – sustainably!

The team determined that the
most urgent need in San Rafael-
Unido was better access to the
houses. They designed a new circulation
system with a main street
uphill and many stairways connecting
the walkways through the
district. Their plan is a combination
of many small improvements.
It includes social spaces, shops,
multifunctional spaces, and new
homes. And it makes use of every
last bit of available space.
Even more important than the
individual sub-projects is the
involvement of the residents. This
ensures that the concept answers
the true needs, and it encourages
the people to undertake further
initiatives. Once a sub-project
is designed, it is presented to
the residents it affects; it may be
carried out only with the approval
of at least 75 percent of them.
Why have the architects been
working for years on this project
in a district that most people
choose to ignore? Isabel Pocaterra
retorts: “If I can’t help solve the
problems of this multitude – then
why am I an architect?”
“Upgrading San Rafael-Unido,
Urban Integration Project, Caracas,
Venezuela”, by Proyectos Arqui 5,
Caracas, Venezuela
Silvia Soonets and Isabel and
Maria Ines Pocaterra (from left)
jointly run the architecture office
Proyectos Arqui 5. They design
houses, residential developments,
office buildings and urban development
projects for public and
private clients – with such success
that they now have a staff of
several employees. One is Victor
Gastier, an architect who was
also significantly involved in the
Award-winning project.
Assessment by Kaarin Taipale:
“This project presents an ethically open and
ecologically sensible approach to minimizing
extreme socioeconomic need. As a globally
significant example it impressively shows
how living conditions in such districts can be
improved through low-cost, sustainable tech-
nologies and use of materials. By encouraging
the users to participate in the planning and
realization of the work, it also promotes local
resourcefulness.”
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Kaarin Taipale (Finland), visiting professor
at several universities in Finland and
Sweden, was a member of the jury for the
global Holcim Awards 2006.