Vernacular Taxonomies: Redefining Traditional Farms as Innovative Hubs within Colombia’s Cashew Industry | Design Thesis on Regenerative Architecture

Site Context

Comprising 100,242 km², the eastern plains of the Vichada department make up the second largest department in Colombia. However, the department as a whole shows the conditions of isolation, lack of public goods, and infrastructure. Due to this, even local residents find it difficult to obtain essential services like electricity and water, and it is even more challenging to obtain equipment for commercialising and producing agricultural products.

Starting with the methodical construction of farms whose building model is based on the utilisation of cashew waste, this project creates a collaborative platform that explores spaces for interaction, materiality, and experimentation. This enables farmers to learn how to use local resources and by-products in order to develop a new industry of experimental farms that develop a comprehensive ecosystem in the territory. In this way, architecture uses local resources to foster interaction, connection, and collaboration.

Design Process

Building on the undergraduate thesis developed during the 2023-2 Design program and aligned with the Master’s research project titled “Utilization of Agro-industrial By-products in Cashew Production in the Vichada Department”—led by the University of Los Andes—this initiative envisions creating a comprehensive ecosystem in Vichada. Central to this vision is the systematic establishment of farms that repurpose cashew shell waste, turning architecture into a medium for fostering connectivity, collaboration, and efficient use of local resources.

The project targets critical aspects of the industry, including administration, research, adaptation, production, and commercialization, through strategies implemented at material, project, and community levels. By integrating these dimensions, it aims to stimulate technological innovation, collaboration, and the exchange of local knowledge, paving the way for new opportunities in the region.

Four experimental studies were conducted to assess the construction potential of cashew shell waste, guided by three main objectives:

1- Establish commercial opportunities that enhance the value of cashew cultivation and processing.

2- Develop locally sourced materials to improve living and building standards in Vichada’s urban areas.

3- Advance sustainability and circularity in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Departmental Agricultural Extension Plan.

This initiative underscores the transformative potential of cashew waste in agriculture and architecture, driving economic, social, and environmental development while positioning Vichada as a leader in agricultural innovation and sustainable practices.

Final Outcome

The project is organized around five taxonomies of experimentation centers that include administration, research, adaptation, production, and commercialization. These are all unified by a standard typology based on a 12 x 12 m grid, corresponding to the plot size for a cashew tree and a height of 4.5 m. 

These taxonomies are tailored using three material layers: roof, envelope, and ground. Each center serves a specific heterotopic function, fostering knowledge exchange and skill development among local stakeholders, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration, and consolidating local efforts within shared spaces.

The experimental farm system takes shape through the repetition, unification, and articulation of these taxonomies across varying scales. This method results in a cohesive experimental farm model that seamlessly combines material innovation with collaborative spaces, creating purpose and value from its foundational design to its completed form.

Rooted in the community, local farmers, and the region’s untapped material resources, the project embraces the socio-environmental dynamics shaping the territory. By addressing regional challenges and leveraging the defining taxonomies, it outlines a framework for territorial growth. The project promotes a system where collaboration and resource optimization drive innovation and sustainability, enabling experimental farms to become pivotal hubs for local development and agricultural progress.

Conclusion: This project showcases how sustainable design can transform cashew shell waste into a driver of regional development. Through adaptable experimental farm centers, it integrates architecture, agriculture, and community collaboration to address local challenges and promote circularity. By fostering innovation and aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals, the project positions Vichada as a model for sustainable growth and resilience.

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