Ficus Alto Art Space is a public venue designed to support emerging artists within satellite communities. It offers a platform where food, art, and music come together to foster local communication and cultural exchange.
Located in Pisagua, Los Rios Province, Ecuador, this project sits in a transitional zone between the coast and plateau. The local population is around 1,363 residents. Designers Vanessa and Jordan aimed to rejuvenate the Ficus Alto Art Space by creating a versatile public area that blends food and art, encouraging the sharing of locally handcrafted cuisine in a natural setting.
The project occupies a 9 by 7 meter platform, originally used as a cocoa drying yard, now repurposed for community engagement. It features two metal porticos supporting a 9 by 9 meter roof made of wooden trusses with convex curved cross-sections. Inside, nine wooden boards measuring 0.15 x 4 x 0.02 meters act as trusses to reinforce the structure, reduce costs, and extend coverage without intermediate columns.
Throughout construction, local labor and materials were prioritized to enhance the project’s local significance, tapping into the community’s potential and supporting its revitalization.
This design seamlessly integrates the platform with local elements such as historic houses, banyan trees, and natural rocks repurposed as outdoor seating. It serves as an extension of the residential area and sidewalks, providing a communal space for the daily activities of local residents.
Ficus Alto Art Space also functions as a venue for local art events, using micro-architecture to open new opportunities for social and cultural exchange within the community.
Project Drawings
△ Plan View
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Function Analysis Diagram
Project Information
Architectural Design: Natura Futura Arquitectura
Project Year: 2022
Photographer: Natura Futura Arquitectura
Location: Pisagua, Los Rios Province, Ecuador
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