HortoLAB – Creative Space
ATTENTION: THIS PROJECT IS THE RESULT OF A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS BETWEEN CTRL+Z AND DIFFERENT AGENTS. FOR A CORRECT UNDERSTANDING, I INVITE YOU TO LEARN ABOUT THE OTHER SUBJECTS DIRECTLY INVOLVED: ASYLUM PROJECT (CASTUERA), STRADDLE3 (BARCELONA), ALL FOR PRACTICE (MADRID).
The HortoLAB experience does not start from scratch, but is based on the reuse of the “Mobile Architecture Prototype for Collective Activities” built in 2009 within the framework of the “Creative Cities Congress” in Cáceres.
In November 2009 I had the opportunity to participate with other groups in the assembly of the Chacharro2.0 prototype, a mobile facility designed by Straddle3 within the framework of the Cáceres Creativas conferences.
Those interested can find all the information about this first phase at this link: C2.0
Those interested can find all the information about this first phase at this link: C2.0
During the process, local scrap yards were visited on several occasions and various items were recovered from there, such as the sink, a good number of metal profiles, and the windows.
As a whole, the equipment is designed with a double purpose:
On the one hand, its markedly educational nature allows local children and young people, even entire classes, to learn about ecological and environmental issues, from germination to the preparation of products, allowing them to experience the complete natural cycle. Meanwhile, it allows the development of complementary activities such as the manufacture of mobile gardens, sensory education laboratories, etc.
On the other hand, the HortoLAB represents a new opportunity for citizens to participate in the self-management of a space that invites groups, associations, as well as ordinary citizens to self-organize, share responsibility and use it.
Coinciding with the summer solstice, HortoLAB has organised the “ 1st HortoLAB week ” dedicated to innovation applied to urban agriculture, with all kinds of workshops, covering a wide range of different topics, with a marked vocation for integration of the community surrounding the facility.
I invite you to enter the page of HortoLAB where you can find a complete programme of upcoming activities.
From this constructive experience, in March 2011, again thanks to the initiative of Stradlle3, the possibility of recycling Cacharro2.0 to configure the HortoLAB arose, a new facility dedicated to promoting respect for the environment and healthier consumption habits among the population, especially the youngest, to serve and support the neighborhood gardens of San Jorge de Cáceres.
The project is part of several multidisciplinary experiences that are being implemented in the Ribera del Marco area, promoting and supporting local innovation and creativity policies. Ctrl+Z immediately joins this project, in which Proyecto Asilo and Todo por la Praxis also collaborate.
The facility consists of a nursery for educational activities, a kitchen for handling produce from the garden itself, as well as an office for administration tasks and is developed around a central room that can be expanded if necessary by opening completely towards the garden to allow for greater attendance or, rather, for various activities that require this dual nature of open and closed space.
This second modification incorporates passive and natural insulation systems, focused above all on avoiding exposure to direct solar radiation of maritime containers, a major Achilles heel of projects based on this type of elements.
For the exterior walls, a ventilated façade has been designed based on recycled pallets that have been modified and transformed into flower pots. In this way, good partial protection is provided from the start, which will be completed as the plants grow. To this end, fast-growing climbing species have been selected. The roof of the containers has also been transformed into a green surface supported by recycled plastic coffers that separate the soil from the sheet metal, to avoid possible leaks and to create an air chamber.
The mass will help to keep the temperature under control both in summer and winter. In this case, to promote more autonomous maintenance, species from the local scrubland have been chosen.
Both are effective solutions for maintaining a reasonable temperature inside without the need for active means.
Inside, the kitchen and office have been covered with plasterboard for greater comfort, while the nursery has been fitted with wooden panels that are more suitable for more intensive use.
The central floor, made up of formwork panels, has been recycled from the previous assembly, as well as the upper metal structure and the canvas, to which only minor repairs were made.
The use of recycled and standard materials responds to the desire to ensure that the proposed models are familiar to the population and are reproducible, since they are easy to find and practically identical, not only in Spain but throughout the world.
The mass will help to keep the temperature under control both in summer and winter. In this case, to promote more autonomous maintenance, species from the local scrubland have been chosen.
Both are effective solutions for maintaining a reasonable temperature inside without the need for active means.
Inside, the kitchen and office have been covered with plasterboard for greater comfort, while the nursery has been fitted with wooden panels that are more suitable for more intensive use.
The central floor, made up of formwork panels, has been recycled from the previous assembly, as well as the upper metal structure and the canvas, to which only minor repairs were made.
The use of recycled and standard materials responds to the desire to ensure that the proposed models are familiar to the population and are reproducible, since they are easy to find and practically identical, not only in Spain but throughout the world.
During the process, local scrap yards were visited on several occasions and various items were recovered from there, such as the sink, a good number of metal profiles, and the windows.
As a whole, the equipment is designed with a double purpose:
On the one hand, its markedly educational nature allows local children and young people, even entire classes, to learn about ecological and environmental issues, from germination to the preparation of products, allowing them to experience the complete natural cycle. Meanwhile, it allows the development of complementary activities such as the manufacture of mobile gardens, sensory education laboratories, etc.
On the other hand, the HortoLAB represents a new opportunity for citizens to participate in the self-management of a space that invites groups, associations, as well as ordinary citizens to self-organize, share responsibility and use it.
Coinciding with the summer solstice, HortoLAB has organised the “ 1st HortoLAB week ” dedicated to innovation applied to urban agriculture, with all kinds of workshops, covering a wide range of different topics, with a marked vocation for integration of the community surrounding the facility.
I invite you to enter the page of HortoLAB where you can find a complete programme of upcoming activities.
The following participated in the production in different capacities:
Straddle3 (Catarina Eisele, Rita Rabaça, Jordi Pastells, David Orriols, David Juarez), aSilo Project (Jose Milara, Joaquin “the shoemaker” and the bean team: Guillermo Valles, Oscar Pinales, Orlando Parras), Manuel Torralba, Txp (Diego Peris, Sebastian Rueda, Orlando Rueda, Manu “the one with the cap”, Laura Gonzalez), the guys from Concetpuarte (Pedro, Nacho and Ciro), some meridians and of course Ctrl+Z (Gianluca Stasi).
Special thanks to Mrs. Tonia for supplying us with perrunillas and mantecados during the assembly.