Entre Raíces. Biodiversity Center

Project idea

The main idea of the "Entre Raíces" project is to transform the perception and urban activity in Bogotá, a highly industrialized city, through design and architecture that connect space, community, and nature. The biodiversity center aims to raise awareness about the importance of the environment in Colombia, particularly in the Andean ecosystems, while revitalizing the Centenario neighborhood and promoting a more active and green city.

Project description

The biodiversity center "Entre Raíces" aims to offer a new perspective on what design and architecture can bring to a highly industrialized city like Bogotá, a discipline capable of influencing minds and actions through spaces that connect space, community, and nature. The project begins with the intention of stimulating urban activity by raising awareness and fostering reflection on the importance of Colombia's fauna and flora environment. Located strategically for the revitalization of the Centenario neighborhood and serving as a central axis connecting to Restrepo, a district historically associated with industrialization and commerce, "Entre Raíces" delves into Colombia's natural landscapes and Andean ecosystems.

It aims to foster connections from youth to the local community by providing spaces that encourage exploration and curiosity. In this way, it seeks to shift perceptions from an industrial city to an active and green urban environment, leveraging architecture's functionality, integration, and community engagement with its surroundings. "Entre Raíces" emphasizes the use of public space to introduce the Centenario neighborhood to various levels of education and knowledge through green bridges that facilitate unconventional circulation. These spaces include educational classrooms, public student laboratories, workshops, screening rooms, a public library, urban gardens, and pollinator gardens, among others.

The project aims to integrate with the community and raise environmental awareness in a city characterized by industrialization, limited permeability, and few spaces dedicated to such topics. Ultimately, "Entre Raíces" explores how perceptions and community activities can transform when integrated with spaces of knowledge and permanence, enriching scientific and social themes for future generations and projects.

Technical information

The project spans 1,100 square meters across three lots previously used for commerce and manufacturing, now transformed into a multi-level building that integrates public space in various ways. It features reinforced concrete along with a double-layer facade comprising steel-supported wooden panels, aimed at effective climate control.