3.2 Concepts

The actions that will help the design to take place will consider 3 concepts: A. Spatial Growth (Figure 3.4), which will help to increase the area of utilization for activities that currently do not take place in Miraflores and to preserve the existing ones. This is achieved by proposing a vertical growth of the housing unit that will utilize the flat roofs. In addition, removing the existing wall between backyards, will connect neighbors and enhance the sense of community starting from the living space. B. Secondly, all these new areas can be connected through bridges between roofs but also they need to be accessed in a way that the habitants are not disturbed and in a controlled way, which is why the multipurpose buildings are an important part of the project because not only do they act as a gathering point for the community, but also as a filter for roof access (Figure 3.5).

Figure 3.4. A. Spatial Growth. By Author

Figure 3.5. B. Multipurpose buildings connecting ground floor with roofs, also bridges connecting roofs. By Author. Andrea Estefanía Calle Bustamante | Manchester School of Architecture

Figure 3.6. Concepts used in Miraflores. By Author

C. Finally, the big umbrella that covers Miraflores, is the increased sense of community. An invisible connection between neighbors, which will unite the project, making people feel connected to its place of living by using their skills and time to enhance the landscape; its sensorial experience that will hopefully fill Miraflores habitants with pride of the place that they live in (Figure 3.6).