Community Production Center Las Tejedoras Selected as 2024 Emerging Practice Winner by MCHAP

The award was announced at the Conference on Critical Practice held at Mies van der Rohe’s S. R. Crown Hall, where the four other finalists gathered to open up a conversation about the future of architecture across the Americas. The Las Tejedoras Community Production Center in Guayas, Ecuador, was designed by Natura Futura architects José Fernando Gómez and Juan Carlos Bamba. The project offers a hub for local women artisans, providing a place for them to learn, create and showcase their textile creations.

The Mies Crown Hall Americas Prize (MCHAP) for Emerging Practice is a biennial award that aims to recognize the best in architecture in the Americas. The winning project was selected from four finalists announced earlier this year. All finalists had the opportunity to discuss their approaches and engage in conversation around themes such as ecology, technology, agency and generational shifts.

Community Production Center Las Tejedoras by Natura Futura + Juan Carlos Bamba (cr: JAG Studio)

Community Production Center Las Tejedoras by Natura Futura + Juan Carlos Bamba (cr: JAG Studio)

According to Dirk Denison, Director of MCHAP, the Community Production Center Las Tejedoras is a real demonstration of how the next generation of architects can respond to the challenges and problems of our time with economy and elegance. Along with the works of the other finalists, the lively discussions over the past few days have sparked many ideas for empowering future practitioners.

Community Production Center Las Tejedoras by Natura Futura + Juan Carlos Bamba (cr: JAG Studio)

Community Production Center Las Tejedoras by Natura Futura + Juan Carlos Bamba (cr: JAG Studio)

The Community Production Center Las Tejedoras project has been recognized for its presence in the community and its contextual understanding of the unique needs and skills of the local Chongón community in Guayas, Ecuador. The center was designed with the intention of being used by a group of female weavers who did not have a dedicated space for them to practice their craft. The design process tried to take cues from the identity of the craftspeople by incorporating local materials such as teak wood and clay bricks arranged in a herringbone pattern. Many were also influenced by the local climate by prioritizing ventilation and natural lighting. In the center, there is a green terrace filled with plants that connects the spaces that function as training areas, practical workshops, community meetings and storage of work.

The second-floor courtyard serves as a threshold between the community and the interior workshops, while providing a central meeting space that seamlessly blends architecture and landscape. The structure, designed for natural ventilation, shade and cost efficiency, makes use of local materials in a clean and beautiful way. In particular, the raw teak columns and beams that are installed throughout the building elevate the level of detail to a sophisticated construction.

Community Production Center Las Tejedoras by Natura Futura + Juan Carlos Bamba (cr: JAG Studio)

Community Production Center Las Tejedoras by Natura Futura + Juan Carlos Bamba (cr: JAG Studio)

Located near Guayaquil, the project presents a counter-narrative to the rapid urban sprawl that characterizes the area while prioritizing spaces adapted to the needs of the community while also encouraging biodiversity. Reintroducing native vegetation and endemic plants such as guarumo and heliconia, the project also provides adequate conditions for birds and insects that have been displaced over time by surrounding developments.

Set to open in 2023, the center will serve as a platform for the economic and social progress of the community. The center hosts workshops on weaving and sustainable agriculture, participating in the local economy and promoting a closer relationship with the environment. Considered capable of elevating the dignity of the entire community. Recognizing the importance of local community development practices, this project gives formal expression to local crafts in an effort to improve their quality.