Ecoterrazas San Cristobal: A Catalyst for Sustainable Urban Living for Bogotá’s San Cristóbal | Architecture Thesis

Site Context

Ecoterrazas San Cristóbal is a mixed-use development situated in the Montebello and Santa Inés Sur II neighborhoods, part of the San Cristóbal UPL in Bogotá. This region is defined by its hilly landscape, notable ecological potential, and pressing socio-environmental challenges.

Although the UPL boasts over 60,000 trees, these specific neighborhoods have limited greenery, with only 277 and 15 trees respectively, underscoring significant disparities in access to public green spaces and ecological connectivity. Furthermore, the locality falls below Bogotá’s green space standard, offering just 4.03 m² of green area per inhabitant.

Design Process

The design process for Ecoterrazas San Cristóbal drew inspiration from the essential architecture of Rudolph Schindler, Luis Barragán, and Ricardo Legorreta, whose works are celebrated for their spatial depth and richness. Four key concepts shaped the project: Unstable Balance, Mass Variability, Irregularity, and Subtle, Directed Light.

Conceptual Exploration: The process included techniques like stacking, molding, undermining, and weaving to create physical prototypes, which enabled the testing and refinement of these concepts. The results formed a spatial catalog that served as a blueprint for the design.

Formal Steps: Two initial volumes were positioned to respect the existing urban layout. Rotation and Elevation: These volumes were rotated and elevated to enhance visual and spatial permeability, highlighting connections to the green axis.

Densification and Subtraction: The residential block was densified to optimize housing capacity, while deliberate subtractions carved out terraces and courtyards. These voids ensured interaction with green spaces and enhanced the project’s ecological and communal value.

Structural Integration and Greening: The elevated residential block achieves a sense of unstable balance through concealed supports and cantilevers, using a steel truss system for structural integrity. Green terraces and patios are interwoven throughout, adding ecological benefits and fostering interaction with nature.

Materiality and Light: The interplay of materials—concrete for solidity, wood latticework for texture, and light for atmospheric depth—brings the design to life. These elements ensure the project delivers ecologically integrated and community-focused spaces.

Final Outcome

The project emphasizes the creation of a Central Ecological Axis, connecting key areas while tackling urban and environmental challenges such as excessive hard surfaces, poor permeability, and the scarcity of lively public spaces. The design incorporates 3,900 m² of multifamily housing and 1,700 m² of commercial spaces, arranged around green courtyards that invigorate public life and encourage community interaction. 

Elevated residential units provide privacy while supporting dynamic commercial and communal activities at the ground level. This intervention promotes ecological restoration, enhances mobility, and introduces essential public and green spaces, acting as a catalyst for sustainable urban living. By enriching its surroundings, the project strengthens both the ecological and social networks of the area.

Ecoterrazas San Cristóbal blends adaptable housing design with sustainable urban strategies to tackle local challenges. The residential units are fully flexible, enabling residents to modify their connection with the exterior through foldable modules in social areas and personalize interior layouts to suit their needs. Drawing inspiration from architectural visionaries such as Rudolph Schindler, Luis Barragán, and Ricardo Legorreta, the project integrates key principles like unstable equilibrium, mass variability, and light manipulation, fostering a deep emotional connection between inhabitants and their spaces.

The project covers 3,000 m², encompassing 11 lots—8 single-family homes and 3 productive housing units with integrated commercial spaces. The redesign of public spaces prioritizes social cohesion and improved mobility. Additionally, a second development area of 950 m² is allocated for a future housing project. The total built area spans 5,600 m², featuring 24 residential units, each 85 m², and 30 commercial spaces distributed over 11 floors. A newly created green corridor enhances environmental quality and promotes sustainable mobility, reinforcing the project’s commitment to ecological and urban integration.

Conclusion: Ultimately, the ‘Ecoterrazas San Cristóbal’ project serves as an example of how thoughtful, essential architecture can transform urban environments and create adaptable, socially significant, and ecologically sustainable community spaces.

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