ARROYO DE ENCUENTROS: Spaces Of Coexistence Between The Elderly And Children For The Transmission Of Artisanal Knowledge | Architecture Thesis on Urban Landscape Design

Site Context

Since learning implies a bond with the one who transmits it, the project proposes to recover the ravine landscapes as educational environments. It seeks to spatially foster practices that have been limited or displaced from urban areas. Among the identified ravines, the dry stream Sutuq Chaka presents the clearest opportunity to promote local knowledge due to its proximity to the artisanal neighborhood of Santa Ana.

Although the stream infiltrates more than a third of the annual rainfall with only one-fifth vegetative cover, its regeneration will increase this capacity and allow greater interaction with the inhabitants of Huamanga, without the intention of invading or domesticating it.

At the urban level, the stream proposes gateways that connect with surrounding neighborhoods. Rainwater channels, together with vegetation, are extended, and the pavement links to educational facilities and artisanal workshops.

This creates a landscape of encounters that strengthens intergenerational bonds through productive, festive, and oral knowledge, reaffirming the role of the elderly and integrating the child’s daily learning and care into the outdoors for their full development.

Design Process

To rehabilitate the ravine, the streambed is first rediscovered, and the resulting debris and soil are used to consolidate embankments that allow for more prolonged activity. Then, the erodible edges are stabilized with wooden terraces or playful pieces, while native vegetation is reinforced. Subsequently, access points and crossings from the edges are consolidated, and finally, the paths are programmed and characterized through local practices.

The tradition of stonework in Ayacucho defines the ground-level intervention elements, which are inserted into the landscape without competing against it. Additionally, in more frequently used areas, the activities are prolonged through suspended coverings made of bundled ichu grass woven with rope. Given the uncertainty of materializing a roof in a natural setting, the “tambo” is reinterpreted — a wooden structure with a thatched or ichu roof and no lateral enclosures. These coverings not only host learning activities but also extend them into the surrounding landscape.

Thus, the ravine becomes a playful axis that embraces artisanal practices and oral encounters, generating everyday educational experiences and shared moments between children and elders, with a focus on maximizing elderly participation in the most accessible areas.

Final Outcome

The project’s water management strategy not only regenerates the ravine but also sustains and consolidates the proposed sociocultural dynamics.

In the first scenario, the streambed is shaped with pircas that both slow down and infiltrate runoff through swales and support the regeneration of dye plants. These structures also define spaces for work, play, and continuity in teaching the Ayacucho altarpiece. Along the edges, the tambo reshapes the urban frontage and extends learning activities, including potato cultivation — an essential input for preparing the mortar used in altarpiece making.

The second scenario prioritizes the exchange of oral knowledge. Here, eroded slopes are reinforced with wooden terraces that provide restful spaces for elders while also offering playful environments for children.

The third scenario, positioned near El Buen Pastor school, introduces seasonal water areas designed for play and supports textile workshops along the banks, where tree canopies create opportunities for gathering.

Finally, in the upper zone, a festive plaza is proposed to host patron saint celebrations, carnivals, and community fairs. This plaza also connects with a communal dining space, reinforcing intergenerational bonds and emphasizing collective care as a cornerstone of the social landscape.

Conclusion: Ultimately, the project restores Huamanga’s ravines as living landscapes that unite ecology, craftsmanship, and education. By reinforcing intergenerational bonds, it safeguards local knowledge and reaffirms the role of the elderly in shaping the city’s future.

[This Academic Project has been published with text and images submitted by the student]