Iskonawa House, Chachibai

Location: Native Community Chachibai, Pucallpa, Perú.
Year: 2022
Promoted by: Propurus (promoter), Organización del bien común del pueblo Iskonawa – ODEBPI (cooperation), Asociación Semillas para el Desarrollo Sostenible (Participatory process and architecture)
Team: Marta Maccaglia, Giulia Perri, Isabela González, Angela Yangali (Architecture), Gustavo Tello (Engineering), Wilian Hernan Ochavano Rodriguez y Felix Ochavano Rodriguez (community coordination), Manuel Diaz (anthropology), Ivan Brehaut (general coordination)

The project “Iskonawa house” is located in the Native Community of Chachibai, in Ucayali, in the Peruvian jungle. The project was carried out by an interdisciplinary team and through the cooperation of different institutions. Several common goals were achieved: the organization of the indigenous Iskonawa people was made stronger, their cultural value was preserved and increased, and their territories were secured. The construction of the ” Iskonawa house”, a strong symbol of change, seeks to create a meeting space to foster cohesion among the community.

The program is organized into two modules completely made of wood. The first module consists of a large multipurpose room, surrounded on the north and west sides by educational and administrative rooms. These include the Iskonawa language room, the main office, two storage areas, and the arts room. These rooms are accompanied by a large wall that looks out and flows outside, marking two main entrances.  This wall, “the wall of memories” will lead the viewer along a path exhibiting Iskonawa culture, through fabrics, arts, photographs and videos. The second module is the services module and contains the community kitchen, the toilets, and the first aid station. This module will also produce energy, as its roof is made up of solar panels. Also, its walls are composed of tubes which gather rain water, which will also provide a water supply (CASA System). This project’s process, architecture, content and materials seek to create an architectural symbol of the living heritage of the Iskonawa culture