Social Commitment Community Project, Glocal Architecture, Sustainable Intervention
• Project: Telephoto Lens School. La Gran Sabana.
• Location: Santa Clara del Oso, Bolívar State.
• Date: 2024 – Under construction.
• Built Area: 530 m2
• Landscape Area: 620 m2
• Arquitectural Team: Tragaluz Estudio de Arquitectura: Arch. Miguel Fernández / Arch. Carmen Navarro
• Collaborators: Arch. Diamara Martínez, Arch. Luis Trejo, Arch. Fernando Rangel, Arch. Dayana Núñez.
Driven by the desire to reinforce the value these natural monuments hold for the community, the concept and placement of the “Teleobjetivo” (Telephoto Lens) School were conceived. The project explores the idea of becoming a “lens” that allows the natural landscape to be visualized, expanded, and compressed throughout its architectural journey.
Glocal
The proposal advocates for the use of local materials and techniques: palm, stone, earth, and wood, with the goal of integrating the project, the community, and its resources. Conversely, the design maintains a clear contemporary stance toward the built environment. Thus, the project embodies a “glocal” condition—a strategy that operates between global codes and local specificities.
The community of Santa Clara del Oso is located within Canaima National Park, in a clearing bordered to the west by the main highway of the Gran Sabana. The community is organized along a south-to-north path, and to the east, it faces a unique and privileged view of the Venezuelan Tepuis.
The project covers a built area of 530m2 within a 620m2 site, aiming to fulfill the following requirements: 4 Classrooms, 2 Bathrooms, Kitchen, Office, Conucos (plots for cultivation) / Courtyards, and Multi-purpose spaces for community use. The central axis is an open space designed as a multi-purpose area that connects the classrooms, serving for children’s recreation, community meetings, and even local health clinics.
