giancarlo mazzanti: bosque de la esperanza

‘bosque de la esperanza’ by giancarlo mazzanti in altos de cazuca, colombia all images courtesy giancarlo mazzanti image © jorge gamboa

colombian architect giancarlo mazzanti has shared with us images of ‘bosque de la esperanza’, an open-air sporting court and public plaza in the shanty town of altos de cazuca, colombia. featuring a 700 m2 canopy structure comprised of prefabricated dodecahedrons, the design is read as a cluster of trees against the muted and monotonous background of the slum settlement.

in context image © jorge gamboa

located on an inclined site, the multi-functional structure rests on a series of steel stilts that sprout up at multiple angled trajectories. at once delicate and industrial, the design exhibits a visually distinct identity within the neighbourhood and can be observed from a distance due to its vantage point. the expanded steel mesh that wrap around the dodecahedrons offer a light and porous mode of shading.

aerial view image © jorge gamboa

view of canopy from above image © jorge gamboa

serving as a public plaza and meeting point for the inhabitants of the area, the canopy structure hovers over a concrete playing field which can host a variety of sports and activities. the design maintains a well-ventilated space that openly communicates with the adjacent street life. at night, artificial lights incorporated into the structure allow the canopy and space below to glow, resulting in a design that acts as an inviting public forum to the neighbourhood. 

approach image © alejandra loreto

overall view of exterior image © jorge gamboa

from street image © jorge gamboa

image © jorge gamboa

image © jorge gamboa

detail view of dodecahedrons image © jorge gamboa

view of sporting court image © jorge gamboa

canopy image © jorge gamboa

image © jorge gamboa

as a public plaza image © alejandra loreto

image © alejandra loreto

surface of canopy image © alejandra loreto

night view image © alejandra loreto