CHAPTER 3
COMMUNITY AND INDENTITY During the demolition and construction process of Quinta Monroy, the families were relocated to a temporary camp. Located in Alto Hospacio, two families shared lots of 8.75 metres by 17.5 metres, with a communal bathroom and kitchens. Fifty families were located within the emergency housing provisory camp, “six would be permanently relocating from Quinta Monroy, six would receive houses in another SERVIU project, four would receive temporary housing in a SERVIU project, forty families would relocate on their own accord,” (Aravena, A. Iacobelli, A. 2016: 118). Breaking up the community and placing families in an undesired situation away from their existing labour networks and schools within the city, drew a sense of irony, as this was ultimately the type of displacement that Elemental wanted to avoid in the beginning. The complexity of such a situation brought the idea of to involve the Chilean army to help transfer belongings and materials from place to place. The rehousing period wasn’t as smooth as anticipated. Whilst others moved to various locations, others stayed until threatened with police eviction. “The gradual dismemberment of the slum generated unforeseen tension and difficulties: one could not simply dismantle a house and leave others without electricity, water or access to septic tanks,” (Aravena, A. Iacobelli, A. 2016: 120). A sense of uncertainty grew between the residents and the authorities, not only were the designs being compromised, but whilst they were absent, SERVIU would initially own their property at Quinta Monroy. With their future homes lingering on promises, an assurance, which at this point they didn’t trust
How Elemental measure the success of such schemes is via value appreciation, relying on the incrementality and the beneficiary’s savings. The romanticism of such a proposition, ignores the fact that the community don’t have the resources to purchase the envisioned materials of quality, in the terms of longevity, performance and aesthetics. As signified with the intentions of conducting a façade workshop for the community. When you look at the existing composition of materials of Quinta Monroy, they are basic, that are readily available. Effecting the overall performance of the dwelling. “We wanted to save materials and parts of the original dwellings to create the transition camp and later the definitive house,” (Aravena, Iacobelli, 2016 p120).
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