Public And Industrial Infrastructure For Agricultural Learning: Innovation Center For Coffee Production In La Merced, Chanchamayo, Peru | Architecture Thesis

Site Context

The Innovation Center for Coffee Production is being developed along the Chanchamayo River in Peru. Chanchamayo is a city of significant ecological and cultural value, which has been shaped by the agricultural production of fruits and coffee beans. In response, the project proposes a strategy for reconciling the natural environment with infrastructure, emphasizing the communal and social aspects through distinct programmatic levels and specific production cycles.

Design Process

The decoding and the fragment are integral parts of the design process. The first seeks to derive specific architectural decisions from various elements or circumstances relevant to the project. 

In this case, it emphasizes the strengths and weaknesses of La Merced’s industrial architecture through unconventional and authentic representations (Decoding 1, 2, 3). The second explores how to envision a public space within an industrial building through architectural fragments (Fragment 1).

Final Outcome

The Innovation Center for Coffee Production in La Merced is envisioned as a multi-scalar learning environment. The building’s design reflects its communal and social significance, integrating programmatic levels and production cycles. This new public structure serves as a catalyst for change, with architectural qualities rooted in practical needs and realized through thoughtful design.

As a public building, the program has been reorganized into three levels of learning. The ground floor serves the public scale, connecting with the broader territory, while the first floor addresses an industrial-private scale. In contrast, the second floor is designed with public spaces that feature controlled, more intimate scales.

The project is grounded in a detailed observation of specific production cycles and an analysis of the public building as a catalyst for change. It adopts an experimental approach, examining the various interactions between landscape and infrastructure while exploring construction systems and materials that allow for adaptable and evolving interventions.

Strategies: The first strategy involves the footbridge, which serves as a vertical circulation element and an intermediate space, offering direct public access to the second level from the exterior. The project incorporates materials such as laminated wood and reinforced concrete, which are used in different parts of the structure, including the main infrastructure, facade, and enclosure.

The construction system and material scheme in the project create a contrast between the slenderness and lightness of the wooden structure and the solid tone of the reinforced concrete used for the structural elements on the first level.

Conclusion: The project blends architectural innovation with community-focused design. By integrating nature with industrial infrastructure, it creates a dynamic space for learning, production, and social interaction. With adaptable materials and thoughtful construction, the center responds to local needs and serves as a catalyst for sustainable growth and cultural transformation.

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