The project is rooted in the informal neighborhood Moravia in Medellín. Founded in the 60’s by displaced families from all over Colombia, it has undergone an extraordinary transformation process, from a stigmatized slum to a safe and productive living space. Even though it is a hopeful example for the inherent potential of informal neighborhoods, its future is threatened by major urban renovation plans that project to relocate more than 30.000 of its 45.000 habitants. 

Since 2017 a collective of community leaders from Moravia and architects from Berlin has been operating an initiative to bring different stakeholders of the city together on site, in order to research, discuss, design and build together, and contribute to bridging the gap between bottom up initiatives and top down planning. In multidisciplinary summer schools at the intersection of academic workshops and community festivals, habitants, students, planners, artists, civil organizations and actors from public and private sector have co-produced interventions in the public space.

The exchange has shown decision makers informal neighborhoods as a crucial solution rather than a source of conflict. And it has developed tools for community driven change, enabling habitants to become agents in the transformation of their living space. Several realized interventions have changed everyday life in the community. The most impactful has been the forerunner of our challenge: the Taller Tropical Moravia.

The first Taller Tropical consisted of an open multi-use class room built in bamboo, a mobile kitchen and a community garden. During 2,5 years more than 10.000 users from all ages participated in its programs such as talks, concerts, cultural events, art projects, open air cinema, community meetings, cooking classes, and many more. As the rental contract expired we had to dismantle the temporary structure. Fortunately we could agree on acquiring a lot where the process can continue. The new concept builds upon the learnings of the former space and emphasizes on the pressing issues of nutrition and quality education. Malnutrition as well as unhealthy alimentation habits are major challenges in Moravia. Our cooking school will offer classes for healthy nutrition and a balanced diet for school kids of the area. In a FabLab for innovative construction and recycling solutions, habitants can learn to process waste materials in sustainable and profitable ways. Artist residencies foster cultural exchange and knowledge transfer. The roof terrace will be a multi-use open space, self organized by the community and used for a range of activities from workshops to medical and psychological assistance, community meetings, etc. The new Taller Tropical is projected as an innovative center for experimental, hands-on education, benefiting a population of 45.000 inhabitants of which one quarter is 14 years or younger. The building will be designed as a sustainable prototype to test affordable low-tech solutions in an informal context, supporting Moravias path towards a Sustainable Community.

Our initiative goes back to 2013, when a group of friends from Berlin traveled to Medellín to learn about urban informality. By chance we ended up living in the notorious neighborhood of Moravia. Half a year in its dense habitant and vibrant community had a profound impact on our professional perspectives as becoming architects. We got to know leaders like Cielo Holguín, who let us live with her family, and learned from her tireless commitment for the community. The genesis of Moravia and the current need for action regarding it's unclear future motivated us to start a project in 2017. Since then our team has steadily grown with the challenges. Cielo is still the local anchor and good soul of the project. She has learned english and, together with Albert Kreisel, gained an Echoing Green Fellowship for social leaders. She is currently studying on a scholarship at the Eafit University for Urban and Environmental Studies, further expanding her skillset to represent her community. Albert and Max Becker manage the project between Berlin and Medellín. Nina Pawlicki and Tobias Schrammek link the project to the TU Berlin. Dubian Monsalve is an artist from the community who colours up our interventions. He also illustrated our bilingual publication Moravia Manifesto. Cleyda Murillo is a community mother and leads the cooking courses. Roberto Rodelo is the all-rounder craftsman in our team. Elsy Torreglosa leads our urban gardening program. The mutual long term commitment in our team across continents is the key prerequisite for our continuous, trustful and successful work.

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