Introduction to Huerto Roma Verde and its Cultural Significance
Huerto Roma Verde, a green oasis in the urban landscape, is home to an ongoing restoration project led by architect Oscar Astorga. The focus is on reviving the geodesic dome, a multi-purpose space that hosts concerts, diverse presentations, theater performances, retreats, and exhibitions. For over a decade, Huerto Roma Verde has championed alternative construction practices in an urban setting, aiming to enhance living conditions and promote sustainability.
The Bahareque Technique: An Organic, Sustainable, and Eco-friendly Approach
Astorga explains that the restoration project employs the bahareque technique, a sustainable building method with roots in Mexico and other parts of the world. This technique involves mixing clay, sand, horse manure, and nopal juice to create a unique, enzyme-like reaction. The resulting mixture is then reinforced with straw for added strength.
The Importance of Investing in People
A common misconception in the construction industry is that sustainable building techniques are more expensive. However, Astorga argues that this perspective is misguided. In conventional construction, the majority of costs are allocated to materials, whereas in sustainable building, the focus shifts to investing in people. These individuals possess ancestral knowledge of material application, making the overall cost significantly lower for the environment.
Overcoming Challenges in Urban Organic Material Sourcing
While sourcing organic materials for urban construction presents challenges, Astorga believes it’s a viable solution to combat environmental crises faced by cities worldwide. He aims to collaborate with university experts to explore additional sustainable and feasible construction models for urban environments.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the project’s primary goal? The main objective is to restore the geodesic dome at Huerto Roma Verde, creating a sustainable and eco-friendly model for urban construction.
- What building technique is being used? The bahareque technique, an organic and sustainable method using clay, sand, horse manure, nopal juice, and straw.
- Why is investing in people important in sustainable construction? By prioritizing skilled labor with ancestral knowledge, the environmental impact is minimized, and costs are reduced compared to conventional methods.
- What challenges does the project face? Sourcing organic materials for urban construction is challenging, but Astorga believes it’s a viable solution to address environmental crises.
- What are Astorga’s future plans? Collaborate with university experts to discover additional sustainable and feasible construction models for urban environments.
