All Photography by Francesco Russo
Written, Edited and partly translated from Natura Futura Arquitectura description by Ron Bernthal
The Ecuador-based architecture studio Natura Futura Arquitectura, and Madrid-based architect Juan Carlos Bamba have created a
floating house along the Babahoyo River in Ecuador.
Located in the riverside city of Babahoyo (pop. 178,000), about 48 miles northeast of Guayaquil, the city
is supporting its fast growing population based being a processing and trading center in this agricultural
region of Ecuador.
The city handles rice, sugarcane, fruits, balsa wood and tagua nuts. A little more than half its population
is of the Mestizo ethnic group. .
Considering the abandonment of traditional organizational systems, such as the urban shops and markets that promoted the
connection with the streets and community life, the La Balsanera project is designing new floating, riverside houses build
with bamboo, that will bring trade and businesses back to the Babahoyo river. Following the river's current decline as a
commercial water route, the community has seen the number of floating structures decrease from 200 to 25 within a short period
of time.
La Balsanera project is hoping to help revive "the tradition of living on the river", according to the
architectural firm and architect Bamba.
"In this sense, we seek to recover the link between private and public use," said Bamba.
A local family sees the need to transform their small area of land into a residential and commercial
space along the river, where there will be a restaurant/cafe for local residents and tourists.
Three homes will belong to the mother and her daughters, promoting coexistence and working together
within the same general space.
To do this, it is proposed to divide the building site in half: restaurant to the left and homes to the right.
The home are covered by a corrugated roof that shelters the outdoor terraces. Slatted openings, known as "chazas",
are made from recycled wood and help naturally ventilate and cool the interior of the houses.
