Architects Without Borders, Norway and The Scarcity and Creativity Studio teamed up to design and build a social house prototype for the Nicole Neighbourhood, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Barrio   Nicole   is   located   in   the   territory   of   the   town   of   Virrey   del   Pino   in   the   Municipality   of   La   Matanza   in   the   Province   of   Buenos   Aires,   Argentina. The   neighbourhood   originated   when   homeless   people   invaded   the   site   20   years   ago.   It   currently   has   a   population   of   about   6000   inhabitants   and has   built   a   school,   a   health   station,   a   church,   water   infrastructure   and   has   extended   a   bus   line   to   provide   public   transportation.   This   process   of   local territorial urbanization was realized with the support of social workers and the community organization "26 de Julio". The urban layout plan for the site had already been designed and approved; SCS’s role would be to design and build a house prototype to fit the plots within this layout. PROJECT Nicole neighbourhood, urban planning and social housing Project size and type:      3 hectares, 90 houses + community facilities. Location : La Matanza., Buenos Aires Province, Argentina Description : Three hectares of land were donated in 2010 in order to expand the Nicole neighborhood. Materials : Local clay bricks and timber. The house is to be built in three phases, the first of around 25 m2 with the capacity to expand to around 50m2 and 80 m2 in a second and third self-build, phases. The   aim   of   the   project   is   to   provide   a   community   centre   with   recreation   and   90   houses.   We   aim   to   deliver   an   urban   structure   that   enriches   the neighbourhood, providing an homogeneous area but at the same time with sufficient flexibility to create its own identity. Housing   program:   There   are   a   total   of   90   families   /   homes   of   3,   5   to   8   people      that   will   be   organized   in   3   cooperatives   of   30   families   each.   Some families currently live in other settlements and others live around the neighbourhood where they rent small rooms from neighbours. Program   of   community   spaces:-Cultural   Centre   for   multiple   uses   (multipurpose   room),   cafe   and   plaza.   -Sport   ground   (planned      in   the   line   of   the high voltage cables)-Games for children. La Casa de la Mujer y la Diversidad The   house   is   a   one   story   building   with   a   mezzanine   which   houses   additional   bed   spaces.   Outdoor   spaces   are   small,   both   because   we   wanted   to   use the site to provide the maximum amount of houses and because landscaping and gardening do not seem to be part of the local culture. The   design   consists   of   three   parts   or   three   stages.   At   either   end   of   the   house   are   the   sleeping   accommodation   and   in   the   center   the   Kitchen-dining- living   room.   Most   space   has   been   given   over   to   bedrooms,   in   order   to   contribute   to   housing   large   extended   families,   whose   children   and   grand- children tend to stay home because it is very difficult and expensive to acquire an independent place to live. The   kitchen-dining-living   are   in   the   center,   in   a   relatively   small   space,   which   extends   to   the   outside   under   a   pergola.   Outdoor   activities   are   pleasent except   for   two   months   in   the   winter,   and   they   make   possible   the   ‘parrilla’,   the   Argentinian   BBQ   which   is   an   essential   part   of   family   and   social gatherings. The area is subject to reguular flooding of up to 70 cms, this is the reason why the house is raised a meter off the ground. The   plan   for   the   Phases   is   that   residents   would   be   provided   with   Phase   1,   which   consists   of   25   m2   and   includes   a   bedroom,   living-dining-kitchen, and   a   bathroom.   Phase   1   also   includes   the   main   structure   of   Phases   2   and   3,   making   it   possible   for   these   last   two   phases   to   be   self-built   as,   and when, the family has the resurces to buy building materials. The   resident’s   association   ‘26   de   Julio’   decided   to   use   the   house   we   built   as   a   place   where   abused   women   could   take   regfuge,   as   at   present   women suffering from domestic violence have no where to go.

Model of Phases 3, 2, and 1.

Model of mezzanine and lower floor, Phase 3.

Model of the street elevation and the outdoor spaces.

Day-time and night-time view of the building

View of the kitchen area looking towards a bedroom  and  view of the mezzanine.

The Scarcity and Creativity Studio staff :  Christian Hermasen Cordua and Quique Bayarri Sabariego Architect’s Without Borders staff:   Paola Bornaschella, Quique Bayarri Sabariego, Alfonso Rengifo. Structural Engineer:  Felice Allievi, Degrees of Freedom Engineers Students:   Felix   Blanchard.   Andreas   Juul   Bergene,   Mari   Burheim,   Mathilde   Grindland,   Amanda   Sophie   Holst,   Hanna   Hovland   Johanson,Miriam Martine   Nilssen   Krag,   Nina   Marlow,   Iga   Maselkowska,   Una   Naderevic,   Clemens   Pörtner,   Tina   Løhre   Ranøyen,   Yang   Xiaojian,    Guillem   Izard,   Jules Focke, Anna Ribera Tor, Camille Laniece, Eudine Blancardi. Volunteers : Maria Tarruella i Serra,  Josefine Albach. Sponsors: We are extremely greatful to our sponsors without whom we would not be able to carry out these design and build exercises: Main sponsors: The Oslo School of Architecture and Design Lund & Slaatto, Arkitekter Sponsors:

Plan and gable elevation