Threshold To The Game Of Curiosity: A Cultural And Community Center At Miraflores, Medellín, Colombia | Bachelors Design Project

Site Context

The project is located in Miraflores, a commune in Medellín, Colombia, known for its rich history, vibrant street life, and steep topography. Although culturally rich, the neighborhood currently struggles with challenges related to infrastructure and sanitation. Perched high in the mountains, Miraflores receives abundant sunlight and is characterized by low-rise residential buildings (typically 1 to 3 stories), sloped roads, local shops, street vendors, and lush greenery.

The area has historically contributed to Medellín’s public space culture and is home to one of the city’s oldest football fields—a once-popular gathering place that brought residents together from across Medellín. However, during the 1990s, the area suffered from violence tied to drug trafficking. In response, the government has since launched several urban renewal initiatives, including the introduction of the Metro system, trams, cable cars, and upgrades to major parks.

Interventions like this one aim to further enhance the neighborhood, contributing to a better quality of life for its residents.

Design Process

The project is inspired by Colombian architect Giancarlo Mazzanti’s theory that architecture should be driven not by function, but by art, play, and creation. This shifts the focus from the architect to the user, allowing the community to shape the building rather than imposing a fixed design.

Based on this idea, the project explores an arrangement of geometric cylinders and prisms placed in an apparently random order. Their height and width vary according to their intended use and symbolic relevance, reflecting the spontaneous growth of residential buildings in the area.

Final Outcome

The design is rooted in the idea of spatial freedom—encouraging exploratory movement through both interior and exterior areas, guided by curiosity. It challenges the conventional model of architecture based on control, rigid zoning, and rectangular corridors, offering instead an open, playful experience. Inspired by the figure of the child as a symbol of creativity and the instinct to explore, the concept proposes that architecture should invite users to discover and interact with space in dynamic ways.

The resulting structure features organic geometry, with sinuous and circular forms that break away from rigidity and promote fluid navigation. A central concept is “perforation,” expressed both in plan and elevation—circular courtyards pierce the structure, and perforated façades allow natural light and ventilation to filter through, creating a constantly shifting atmosphere. The aim is to design a space that feels alive and open to continuous discovery.

Volumes rise through a unifying horizontal platform, creating two key public spaces: a shaded, enclosed area below and an open terraced space above, both accessible to the community. Their form, size, and height help define spatial hierarchy, while natural light and airflow are harnessed through design. A brick screen system with three distinct patterns controls light and ventilation; although a single brick type is used throughout, its varied arrangements generate spatial richness.

Together, these elements form a flexible, community-centered space grounded in creative freedom and local identity.

Conclusion: Ultimately, this project reimagines architecture as a catalyst for exploration, creativity, and community engagement. By embracing organic forms, perforated structures, and spatial openness, it moves beyond traditional constraints to offer an environment that is both playful and purposeful—one that invites users to connect, move freely, and experience space in meaningful ways.

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