giancarlo mazzanti: bosque de la esperanza

<p>featuring a 700 m2 canopy structure comprised of prefabricated dodecahedrons, the open-air design is read as a cluster of trees against the muted and monotonous background of its shanty town location. </p>

erika kim March 7, 2012 2 min

‘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.

giancarlo mazzanti: bosque de la esperanza - 1 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.

giancarlo mazzanti: bosque de la esperanza - 2 aerial view image © jorge gamboa

giancarlo mazzanti: bosque de la esperanza - 3 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.

giancarlo mazzanti: bosque de la esperanza - 4 approach image © alejandra loreto