Author: Valentina Martin Millan
Architect graduated from the Javeriana University of Cali, Colombia. She is passionate about architecture, interior design, illustration and nature. Seeking to build a more sensitive world for everyone.
WORK NAME: Tropicario Botanical Garden of Bogotá.
ARCHITECTS: DARP – Of Architecture and Landscape.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Archdaily, among others.
LOCATION: Bogota, Colombia.
YEAR: 2020
M2: 3787 m2
Located in the heart of the Botanical Garden of Bogotá, we can find a space for conservation and environmental study known as the Tropicario - Botanical Garden. This was the result of a competition won by the architecture and landscape studio DARP, directed by the architects Jaime Eduardo Cabal and Jorge Buitrago. This project has been widely awarded and even received the world prize for social habitat and development at the Pan-American Architecture Biennial, Quito 2020.
The basic idea of the project begins with a historical journey about the environmental state of the Sabana de Bogotá. A high plateau that is part of the eastern cordillera of the Andes. This territory, which is delimited by the eastern hills and the Bogotá river, used to be a large lake. However, due to urban development, most of these bodies of water have become extinct, leaving only 1.45% of the original area. This deterioration has been generated largely due to the lack of environmental awareness of citizens around the ecosystem of wetlands.
Even if the Tropicario intends to revive the times when the savannah wetland was its main node of biodiversity, it also seeks to recreate and publicize the different ecosystems that are currently in danger of extinction within Colombian territory. The great environmental wealth that the country possesses is known worldwide. However, this index is something that contrasts with the high levels of deforestation and exploitation of raw materials.
Therefore, Colombia is on the red list of the 8 countries responsible for the deterioration of the planet. This is why the Tropicario is conceived as a botanical expedition through different areas of the country that are under threat.
The project is located on an old structure that was in a high state of deterioration. It should be noted that this space was surrounded by wax palms, which is why the conservation of this species was decisive, which is actually declared a national tree. These palms live a little over 100 years, reaching an approximate height of 70 meters. In this area there are more than 70 adult wax palms, so it was important to intervene in the area in a way that would not affect them.
Another determinant was the integration of the structure of the Botanical Garden and its educational vocation. Due to this, it was impossible to conceive this space as an isolated volume enclosed by walls. It was intended that this space serve to create environmental awareness around the values and threats that these conservation areas constantly face. In addition, it was intended that this space in turn be related to the landscape of the Sabana de Bogotá. With this in mind, the Tropicario was conceived as a system of related parts that make up a whole.
The idea consisted of creating floating spaces within a wetland, this being the ecosystem of the Savannah. For this it was important to take as a reference the amphibious architecture developed by pre-Hispanic engineering. The project consists of six spaces: Humid Forest, Dry Forest, Special Collections, Useful Plants, Superáramos and Biodiversary. Each space has unique characteristics that allow different species to subsist inside. In turn, these spaces function as floating islands within an Artificial Wetland.
Regarding the design and construction, it was important that it did not generate a great environmental impact. For this reason, passive temperature control systems that did not require mechanical ventilation systems were used. Glasses with different thicknesses and automated filters were used to control the temperature. In addition, each module was raised as a receiver of water. This is why they have an oculus in the upper part, which captures rainwater and conducts it to the lakes located within each space and then passes to the artificial wetland. The latter works as a water reservoir that is used for the vegetation irrigation system. Finally, it has a system of "locks" (transition spaces), which allow the user to pass from one space to another without altering the environmental conditions of each one.
It should be noted that even if these environmental projects are designed and built, it is much more important to preserve all ecosystems in their natural state. However, the creation of this space in an urban environment is a wise bet, since it provides the opportunity to learn and investigate about these different ecosystems that exist in the country and that are currently deteriorating. Creating environmental awareness is one of the tasks of the moment, since architecture made by nature is something that we cannot lose.
I invite you to learn more about this project in the following link...