Plaza de Matapalo

Plaza de Matapalo Background – 1

The World House Project Costa Rica

2 – Background

Contents 1.0

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Background 1.1 The Republic of Costa Rica 1.2 Matapalo 1.3 History of Public Squares 1.4 Local Precedents ■■Square Design ■■Feature Design 1.5 Charrette Designs ■■Feedback 1.6 Design Process Square Design and Features 2.1 Site Plan 2.2 Fixture Plan 2.3 Planting Plan 2.4 Planting Beds 2.5 Market Shelter 2.6 Market Cart 2.7 Bus Shelter 2.8 Rainwater Collection 2.9 Playground 2.10 Retaining Walls 2.11 Pathways 2.12 Berms 2.13 Benches 2.14 Picnic Tables 2.15 Waste and Recycling Bins 2.16 Lighting 2.17 Swales and Swale Bridge 2.18 Event Board 2.19 Culture Plaques

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Ecological Considerations 3.1 Local Species ■■Trees ■■Plants 3.2 Restoration Proposal 3.3 Storm Water Management ■■Swales ■■Rain Water Collection

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Implementation 4.1 Community Committees ■■Town Square Committee ■■Steering Committee 4.2 Phased Build 4.3 Building Materials 4.4 Budget Estimate

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Community Approach 5.1 Cultural Strategies ■■Community Workshops ■■Culture Plaques ■■Events 5.2 Community Uses ■■Weekday ■■Saturday ■■Sunday 5.3 Principles to be Shared ■■Local ■■National ■■Global

Background – 3

4 – Background

1.0 Background

To create a design that reflects the environment in which it resides requires significant understanding of the people who will use it and build it. Knowledge of the available skills and resources is imperative to developing a successful design that can be built and properly maintained. Understanding patterns of use and cultural preferences make designs quickly adopted and create a source of local pride.

Matapalo

Costa Rica is a small country in Central America. Its proximity to the equator results in a consistently warm climate with only two seasons, wet and dry.

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Costa Rica has many different geographic regions. Matapalo is located in the province of Guanacaste which is best known for its farming and numerous ranches.

1.1 The Repulic of Costa Rica Costa Rica is located in Central America, just north of the equator between Nicaragua and Panama. It has a population of approximately 5 million and is the first country to have abolished its army. Major industries include electronics and pharmaceutical exports, financial out sourcing, software development and tourism. The government provides tax incentives to industries that are willing to invest in the country resulting in companies like Intel and GlaxoSmithKline constructing production facilities in Costa Rica. In 2006, Intel was responsible for 20% of Costa Rica’s total exports. Despite a growing economy, Costa Rica is a developing country with challenges such as lack of maintenance or investment in infrastructure. Currently, there is no national waste management program.

Although small in area, 51 000 sqkm, Costa Rica contains a significant amount of plant and animal biodiversity. With only 0.1% of the world’s land mass, Costa Rica is home to 5% of the world’s biodiversity. Efforts to protect and improve these natural resources have resulted in 23% of land having designation as a protected forest or reserve. As the country generates the majority of it’s power from hydroelectric and geothermal sources, the goal of becoming the world’s first carbon neutral country is very achievable.

The natural beauty and biodiversity found in Costa Rica have long been the strongest draw for tourists. There is now an increase in the construction of all-inclusive resorts, bringing in a different kind of tourist. Lush golf courses and manicured gardens put new demands on the local infrastructure and the local environment for water and electricity. Often, the demands are more than the system can handle resulting in rolling brownouts. In 2007, the tourism industry grossed $1.9 billion USD with 1.9 million visitors, the most visited region in Central America. It now earns more for the country than banana and coffee exports combined. This thriving industry will only continue to expand and the stresses on public infrastructure further increased.

1.2 Matapalo Matapalo is a small town in the province of Guanacaste. Guanacaste is located in the north west region of Costa Rica in the Municipality of Santa Cruz and boarders Nicaragua and the Pacific Ocean. The climate in most of Guanacaste is characterized as tropical hot with a marked rainy season running from May to November. The hottest and driest months are April and May while the rainiest are July, September and October. The annual dry season is caused by the north-

The Matapalo bullring is a major feature of the small town seeing regular use.

east trade winds blowing in from the Caribbean Sea from November through March. This humid air loses its moisture as it crosses the Caribbean lowlands and central mountain range. As the Guanacaste mountains are both the lowest and narrowest in the country, there is little to block the passage of the arid air. It gusts down the western slopes, drying out everything in its path and prevents any moist breezes from the Pacific Ocean reaching land during these months.

When the trade winds shift northward, air currents once again bring humidity and life-giving rains from the Pacific Ocean. The parched and brown countryside quickly regains its verdant appearance after the first showers of each new rainy season. In Guanacaste, these Background – 7

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Town Square

The aerial map shows the entire town of Matapalo. The circular building on the top left is the bull ring which is beside the football pitch and across from the community centre.

Road Traffic Residential Bar/ Restaurant Shop Institution 8 – Background

afternoon showers usually return by mid-May and continue until about mid-November.

Its proximity to the beach puts Matapalo in a heavily developing area for tourist resort development. Reserva Conchal, a Costa Rican owned resort, has begun construction along its beach front property, just north of Matapalo. Due to negative situations caused by poorly planned developments in neighbouring towns, the residents have been hesitant to trust developers in their community.

The major land uses in the region have been agriculture and cattle ranches. These remain important, but waning industries in the region and are also a strong cultural influence. Every rural town in the region has its own bullring. With the influx of tourist development, farmers are selling their lands at premium prices. This in turn increases the cost of land in the region, putting it well beyond the financial situations of local residents.

The town has approximately 800 residents and has a primary school, church, town square, football pitch and newly built community centre. Local amenities include a few restaurants and supermarket. Matapalo is on the major road used to access Playa Grande, a well known surfing destination. The community centre was built by the community through fundraising and material donation.

Surrounding the town square are the church, police station, su-

Top: The Matapalo church on the north east corner of the square hosts many town events.

Bottom: The community centre is used for large gatherings, exercise classes and meetings.

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Top Left: Central along the southern edge, there are two bus shelters, side by side (one shown here).

Left: The third bus shelter on the south side has poles from tree trunks and beams of steel with a corrugated steel roof.

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Above: A repurposed sign is now used as a notice board.

Top Right: View of main entrance to Matapalo.

Left: The major pathway through the square runs from the west side to the east.

Middle Left: The supermarket on the west side of the square sees regular visitors throughout the day.

Middle Right: The southwest corner of the square is used only in the shaded regions.

Left: On the northwest corner there is a police station and computer centre for residents.

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permarket, restaurants, small businesses and housing. The south side has three bus shelters. Only the perimeter of the park has trees and seating. The large central area is covered with grass and serves primarily as a soccer field. It is much too hot during the day to hold activities in the central, unshaded area.

1.3 History of Public Squares Around the world, public squares are a meeting place for residents and a highlight for visitors. Each has a special function to either remember an event or person, or simply provide the public with a place to play. Most squares function as an open air market, concert venue or space for political rallies. They are also typically surrounded by small shops and have a central feature such as a fountain or statue.

Plazas of Spanish America consisted of three closely located institutions, the cathedral, an administration centre and a court of law. Often the space was large enough to serve as military parade grounds and serve as a muster point for troops. The term plaza is a Spanish word that is related to field. As Spanish America developed, the importance of a central square remained. In smaller towns, the plaza can be an open area of grass, while in larger cities, manicured and more structured facilities exist.

1.4 Local Precedents To design a town square for Matapalo that is functional and appropriate, understanding the local vernacular in other towns in important. Different town squares in Guanacaste were analyzed from aerial images. In addition, town squares were visited to look at the design details of benches, artwork and small structures.

A strong example of a community working with the tourism The towns of Sardinal (top) and Cartagena (middle) are larger than Pinilla (bottoms) and have more developed town squares.

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industry is Punta Islita. A high end hotel was constructed in the small town with initial alarm from the residents. The hotel owners recognized the need for the tourism industry to give back to the small towns they are developing and an effort to support Islita began. Local workshops and financing for micro-enterprises created a creative community with a sense of cultural pride. Small businesses now flourish with the support and effective environmental programs ensure the residents will not lose their natural resources. This combination ensures a thriving community for many years.

Square Design The size of the squares were approximately the same in each town.

The larger town, Sardinal, has the most tree covered area with a central shelter. Cartagena has a similar layout, with a central feature and

Above: Punta Islita was recently decorated by the local community, supported by local tourism developments. This involved painting trees and a mural.

pathways leading towards it. The feature itself is less grand and the tree cover sparse. Both do have their local church (in these images to the right of the square) neighbouring the square with a mix of different buildings. Pinilla being a smaller town has very few trees with the major functions appearing to be a temporary bullring, soccer field and an area to traverse through the centre. This square is most similar to the square of Matapalo, with few trees and an unprescribed large space.

From this analysis, the major features identified as important to maintain cultural context were an increase in tree coverage and need for a focal point.

Site Fixture Design Beyond the plan for the park, investigating the fixtures that will inhabit the square will also need to fit functionally and culturally. Costa Ricans embrace the use of colour in both their homes and public spaces making it an important feature of any fixture to populate the

Right: In Islita, the mosaic tile finish is part of a local restaurant’s outdoor mural.

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park. Also, the materials chosen to build any structure need to be available locally and built in a manor which can be easily maintained by the residents.

The colourful painting in Islita’s town square reflect a story and allow for involvement of the local residents, in particular the children. This kind of activity gives them pride in their work and ownership over its care.

Colourful features can be incorporated while reusing waste products. The mosaic tile patterns can be quite elaborate and beautiful. This technique is often used to cover concrete benches and as art pieces.

Many bus shelters are made from lumber or unprocessed small trees. These withstand the weather for one season only but are easily maintained. The major threats to wooden structures are fungus growth, rot from rain and humidity and termites. This has lead to use of steel beams for larger outdoor structures. Rusting is a challenge, but galvanized products do extend the integrity of the structure. This building style is standard in many rural communities in Guanacaste.

1.5 Charrette Designs A key step in the design process is the incorporation of the wants and needs of the end users. A charrette was held in Matapalo that allowed the residents to give feedback in response to design concepts and propose new ideas for the town square project.

Before travelling to Costa Rica, three preliminary designs were created. Each focused on a different style of square with different functions. They were designed to be at the ends of the spectrum to get strong feedback from the residents. They included a simple build and maintenance plan, a highly structured and build intensive plan and a water treatment focused design. Each was explained to the residents with diagrams and details of each design feature. Not all features, like benches, were placed in the designs. These smaller features would be addressed in the final design.

14 – Background

Design A The most simple design of the three incorporated additional trees, a raised platform to be used as a market and a band shelter. The platform was raised to make it a more visible feature and assist with keeping that facility dry during the rainy season. The rainwater maintenance would be maintained using the same swale system currently in place, draining to the river towards the south.

Major Features ■■ raised earth platform for a market along the southern edge ■■ simple structure for a band shelter ■■ same water drainage system ■■ increased tree cover along two sides ■■ large central unshaded area for soccer ■■ stone covered areas along south and west sides

Design B This design focused on a water treatment feature. Gray water from surrounding homes could be piped to the central natural water purification pond. The water would flow through different types of plants that would remove nutrients from the water. At the end of the treatment pond, the water would be clean enough to be returned to the nearby river. This feature was chosen to address the lack of water treatment for gray and black water. Both are often piped directly into streams and rivers. The designs major goal was to bring attention to the water issue and provide exposure to different options.

Major Features ■■ significantly increased tree coverage ■■ square surrounding boardwalk with lights ■■ central water treatment pond

Design C The final design was significantly more developed and structured than the previous two. The majority of the park was covered with crushed stone with a small grassed area. There was a covered band shelter located on a raised area with steps, structured water feature, gardens in front of the church and lighting along the western edge and along the pond. This plan would require more funding and maintenance.

Major Features ■■ central high maintenance water feature ■■ small band shelter ■■ gardens ■■ open grassed area ■■ gravel covered areas for pathways

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Charrette Feedback ■■ strong interest in creating a market within the square ■■ liked the potential of making money by working from home ■■ additional trees imperative to increasing use ■■ want more seating areas in the shade ■■ lighting important for safety ■■ concerned about smells from gray water treatment pond ■■ thought encouraging restaurants to use park edges will result in alcohol-related issues

In Matapalo, the three conceptual designs were shown to the residents to gain input and feedback.

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1.6 Design Process To create a design that incorporates appropriate and functional features, thorough research and resident feedback is imperative. For the first phase of this project, general research into Costa Rica’s history, environment and people was carried out. From this research, a basic understanding of cultural, social and environmental concerns was applied to three conceptual designs. Each plan was designed to produce strong feedback. The designs were shown to the residents of Matapalo and their responses and ideas were recorded. While in Matapalo, on site research was completed to fully understand the physical layout of the present square and surrounding area. The information collected was analyzed to influence one final square design. This final design integrated the residents wants and needs and addressed the environmental challenges and availability of sustainable materials in the region.

The presentations in Matapalo were translated into spanish for the local residents.

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2.0 Square Design and Features

The design of the plaza has gone through many iterations.

The Matapalo residents provided excellent feedback and insight into their wants and needs. This information was incorporated to create the final design. The strong interest in creating a market area was addressed as was the need for additional shade and seating. Each feature was chosen or designed with sustainability or local availability in mind. For technically complex or new features, such as the rainwater collection system and cob bench, specialists will need to be consulted. In these cases, the knowledge gained to build will be passed onto the community.

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22 1 Rendered plan of the town square design.

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1 Market Shelter 2 Rain Water Collection 3 Playground 4 Bus Shelter 5 Event Board 6 Swale Bridge 7 Arboretum

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Existing Trees Large

7 Existing Trees Medium

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Grass

4 Pathways

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6 Planting Beds

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2.1 Site Plan The square is designed to maximize usability and develop a community resource. The current uses of the square were identified and taken into consideration as were the current rainwater control patterns. Requests from the residents for more shade and seating were accommodated, as was the interest in establishing a market within the square. Lighting was another serious concern for the residents for safety and this was addressed with the inclusion of solar powered lights in both the market shelter and the bus shelter. These are the areas of the square to that will see the most use and therefore would benefit most from lighting. The design creates spaces for all members of the community and is attractive to visitors as well. The materials chosen are sustainable or locally available, keeping with efforts to reduce effects on the environment. The trees and plants are all native species and will have a positive effect on the local environment.

Northwest Quadrant The market shelter is the major feature of the square and functions as a meeting place and a method of creating funds for both the individual vendors and square maintenance requirements. The location of the market makes the most of the busiest section of the surrounding square area, while avoiding the higher traffic of the south road. The collection of rainwater from the roof of the market shelter provides a new resource. The inclusion of such a system creates a focal point to the square. Also in the northwest corner is the children’s playground. This feature is made from used tires and locally available wood. The major pathways through this section connect the school to the square and the playground and lead from the busier southwestern corner to the market.

section along the northern side provides proper drainage and shade.

Southeast Quadrant This area is frequently used with the bus stop and main entrance.

The pathway provides views leading from the southeast corner to the market with trees and berms on either side. The bus shelter is large enough to replace the three currently in use and has a decorative cob bench for seating. The gravel will provide sufficient drainage during the rainy season.

Southwest Quadrant This corner is also quite busy. Presently, traffic flows along the southern road. This area is lined with planting beds with benches for seating. The pathway leads directly to the market and allows for walking along the southern road safely, away from traffic and the swales.

Northeast Quadrant This corner of the square is the least busy. It is adjacent to the church, with a pathway connecting the two. The pathway is boarded by planting beds with small trees and shrubs on the south edge and retaining wall along the north. The retaining wall provides seating and the open grassed area allows children to play. The raised gravel Design Features – 21

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Planting Plan - A large variety of native tree species were chosen to improve biodiversity in Matapalo.

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2.3 Planting Plan In order to promote the conservation of local trees species, a tree arboretum is located in the south central green space of the plaza.

The Matapalo arboretum contains a wide diversity of local tree species. The majority of trees are slow growth species such as rosewood, kapok, sandalwood, cedar and mahogany, which are at great risk as their populations are vulnerable or highly endangered. The other type of species that will be used are common fast growth trees, which will help prepare and improve the soil and environmental conditions for the old growth species to grow.

The arboretum is designed to increase local knowledge of native tree species an improve the community’s appreciation of them. Residents will be able to experience and learn about the benefits these trees bring to their quality of life through food, wood and shade.

More so, it will increase the genetic diversity in the area and provide more local habit for wildlife. The trees can become an important seed bank for future projects such as a local nurseries or ecological restoration projects.

A small pathway, made of natural substrates, will run through the arboretum. Each tree will have a small plaque displaying the scientific name, the common name and relevant information such as its cultural or ecological importance. The plan is flexible and will work well with a variety of species. Cost and availability of the suggested species may make them impractical.

2.4 Planting Beds The simple planting beds are located along the pathways. The beds will consist of three layers of vegetation: ground cover, shrub and accent trees. The ground cover the species, Lantana camara, was chosen as it has high ornamental value and attracts butterflies. The plants will be spaced at a distance of x cm. Three species of medium shrubs used: Chrysobalanus icaco, Alternathera dentata or Malvaviscus arboreus depending on their availability. The first species is an evergreen, the second has ornamental foliage and the last attracts hummingbirds and has bright red flowers. All three are tolerant to drought and can be planted as stakes.

The shrubs will be planted at a distance of 2’ apart and in a staggered pattern. Ideally, they should be maintained at a height of 3’.

The chosen species for the accent trees are Jatropha curcas, Crescentia alata, Tecoma stans and Stemmadenia donnell-smithii; the first two are evergreens while the latter two flower. They will be planted at a distance of 13’ and should be kept to a height of 16’.

Left: Robble tree (far left) and Barrigon trees, both included in the arboretum.

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Above: Latana Carmara (left) and Chrysobalanus icaco (right) shrubs used in the planting beds.

Above: The plan for the planting beds shows equally spaced trees to prevent competition between the them.

Right: The planting beds have large flagstone rocks to separate the pathways from the ground cover. The accent trees will be small and reduce rainwater runoff.

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Above: The space to the west of the market will provide space for picnic tables when the market is active.

Left: The water catchment is the focus of the central activity area.

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2.5 Market Shelter The focal point of the town square revitalization plan is the creation of a market to sell local crafts, produce and baked goods. This provides the local residents a new method of income generation. Being such a small town, the majority of the working residents must travel out of town. The new market provides the unemployed an opportunity to contribute to the household financially. Also, vendors from other towns could sell supplies that may not normally be available in the town. This type of establishment will also attract tourists as an added benefit. The market is a local service that facilitates individual residents in supplementing their income, allows the town to generate funds to properly maintain the square and provides a relaxed setting for social interaction. When not functioning as a market shelter, the structure serves as a meeting place for lunch, shade from the sun or venue for a town event.

The location of the market shelter reflects an active area of the square just across from the grocery store. Residents can chat in the shade of the market shelter or the additional trees. The shelter has picnic tables that are used when the market is not running. These picnic tables are moved just outside when the market is active.

The market shelter structure provides many functions and follows local vernacular. Built from wood and steel, the structure fits with other public buildings, such as the community centre. These materials are locally available and easily maintained. The structure is 70’ long, 17’ wide a the narrow end, 42’ wide at the wide end and 16’ high. The corrugated steel roof is also a typical roofing material. The roof shape and angle allows for rainwater collection, provides excellent shade and considers the prevailing winds. The western edge of the shelter has a fixed awning that shelters the users from the late afternoon sun. Where the awning meets the roof, there is a screened section that allows for air movement.

Each vendor will pay a rental fee for the space they require to sell their products. This fee will go towards town square maintenance and new projects.

Top: The awning made of cana brava provides shade from the late afternoon sun.

Above: Many carts will fit within the shelter

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The market shelter is made from steel and corrugate steel roofing.

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Plan

North Elevation

West Elevation

South Elevation

East Elevation

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Above: The market will fit numerous carts for products display.

Right: The market cart transformas from a storage transportation to goods display unit.

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2.5 Market Carts The market carts are simple to construct and can be made from left over timber donated from local developers. The body of the cart is made of 2”x4” planks, 1/2”-3/4” plywood and the axle is made of recycled pipe. The market carts are designed to provide: ■■ A cultural identity to the town market. The carts are designed to look similar to the traditional Guanacastecan carretas (oxen carts) for which the region is famous. The carts are painted in dazzling colours and decorated with geometric mandala designs and floral patterns.

■■ Easily transportable storage. The market is intended for locals from Matapalo to sell crafts, food and other goods creating a new of method of income generation in the town. The carts provide an easy way of transporting goods from their homes to the town square without the use of cars. The capacity of the interior compartment of the cart is 16 cubic ft.

■■ Flexible display for goods. Once inside the market the cart top can be folded open to increase the top by a third to provide a table for displaying the seller’s goods.

Left: The plan illustrates how the carts would be arranged to maximize the number vendors.

Top: A traditional Guacastecan oxen cart.

Right: An oversized oxen cart wheel with traditional decorative painting.

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2.6 Bus Shelter The bus shelter is designed to replace the existing three shelters while accommodating the same number of people. The shape of the shelter mirrors the market shelter, but on a smaller scale. To avoid walking through the swale to enter the shelter along the southern edge, a swale bridge directly south of the shelter provides clean passage.

In order to protect people from wind and rain, the cob bench has a high back and the roof is angled to the north to stop rain entering the shelter. The shelter is located towards the centre of the southern edge of the square, which allows buses to pull over at a safe distance from both intersections.

The shelter is made from local woods and corrugated steel. Each post is connected to the ground through a concrete footing. The wood structure is simple to build and maintain. It is designed to withstand strong winds and heavy rainfall. The sturcture is 35’long, 25’ at the wide end, 14’ at the small end and 11’ high at the highest.

The cob bench is 40’ long.

Top: The bus shelter is made from locally available melina wood with a corrugated steel roof.

Left: The bus shelter will hold up to 30 people.

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East Elevation

South Elevation

West Elevation

North Elevation

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2.7 Rainwater Collection Rainwater from the market shelter is collects in a 74’ eavestrough and cascades into a catchment pool located at the centre of the square and then flows by gravity to underground storage. The nonpotable water is accessed through a simple hand pump that can be connected to a hose for irrigation of the planting beds during the dry season. Even when dry, the pool will be a beautiful and comfortable spot to relax. After a storm, the pool slowly drains to avoid creating stagnant water where mosquitoes can breed. In the case of extremely large storms the pool is designed to overflow into a gravel channel outside the pool and is diverted underground to the swale.

Further technical details regarding the rainwater system can be found in the Ecological Considerations section under storm water management.

Top Left: The rainwater runoff from the market shelter roof will fall into the catchment pool and then flow into the cistern.

Far Left: The catchment is made from concrete and can be used as seating.

Left: The hand pump for retreiving the collected rainwater is easily used. This water is not for drinking and pump will only be accessible to park gardeners 34 – Design Features

2.8 Playground The playground is located in the area of the square closest to the elementary school and near the police station. The purpose of the playground is to give children a safe area to play with shady areas surrounding where parents can watch and socialize. Selected elements have been designed as samples of possible choices for the playground. However, it is recommended that the children be involved in the design of their space. It is suggested that the park elements be made of recycled tires as they are versatile and widely available in Costa Rica.

Below: Parents can watch their children playing while sitting on the surrounding retaining walls.

Right: The children will help with designing the playground made from used tires and locally available woods.

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2.9 Retaining Walls The retaining walls will provide additional seating and assist with rainwater control. The retaining walls are made from old tires filled with rammed earth. The walls will help with water drainage and keep the high traffic areas, like the market and pathways, dry. The creation of a rammed earth tire wall is a labour intensive project, but the skills developed could be applied to other local projects. The walls will have compacted limestone behind and below them for drainage. They will be covered in a lime/cement plaster shell that will protect from moisture damage.

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Above: Retaining wall section The retaining wall is composed of rammed earth tires and clad in a mixture of lime plaster and cement.

2.10 Pathways The pathways maintain the current patterns of travel, provide excellent points of view and lead to the market. Creating a pathway that runs diagonally southeast to northwest provides an excellent view of the square from the road. The majority of traffic will be travelling along the southern edge, therefore the wide pathway along that edge provides easy paths for pedestrian traffic. The paths are edges with flagstone to keep the smaller pea gravel on the path. The pathways consist of a bottom layer of compacted limestone, followed by a geotextile on top to prevent the smaller pea gravel on top from falling through. The geotextile is permeable to water, reducing puddles along the paths.

Above: Flagstone rocks are lined along the pathways to separate the paths from the planting beds.

2.11 Berms A simple way to add interest to the park landscape is the addition of berms. These small sweeping hills add height and variation to the landscape. Additionally, they provide privacy and informal seating in the square. They also functional in directing storm water runoff into the swales.

Above: The berms provide changes in elevation for visual interest.

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2.13 Picnic Tables Ten picnic tables will be located inside the market shelter and will be moved outside the shelter when the market is active. This will increase the function of the shelter when the market is not running and provide people places to relax and eat.

The picnic tables will be made from a composite material, which is a mix of recycled plastic (HDPE/PET) and reclaimed wood.

These tables would be extremely durable and easy to transport in and out of the market shelter. The standard picnic table is 1.60 m high and 0.90 m wide. There are three lengths available: 1.20, 1.50 and 2 m.

Alternatively, the community can construct simple wooden picnic tables. This may be a more economical option if lumber is donated.

Simple picnic tables can be constructed from remnant lumber.

The red dots depict the locations of the picnic tables when the market is not active.

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The red dots depict the locations of the picnic tables when the market is active.

2.12 Benches Currently, there are very few benches in the park, most of which are in a state of disrepair. They are still in use as they are located in the few shaded regions of the park and serve as a meeting place.

The benches designed for the park are made from poured pre mixed concrete with reinforced rebar. The shape encourages interaction in the central section while providing the option of privacy on the ends. By using a backless design, the users can face either direction. The use of concrete will make them robust enough to last and they are located in shaded areas to maximize their use.

Moveable picnic tables are located in the market shelter for use when the market is not running. They are made from the same recycled plastics as the waste bins making them light and easy to move.

This will allow residents to meet with friends, share a bite to eat and enjoy the square whether it is sunny or raining.

Top, Right: The concrete benches provide multiple seating options.

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2.16 Swales and Swale Bridges The swales in and around the square direct storm runoff, improve runoff quality and increase infiltration of water within the square.

The swale bridges provide a safe dry place to cross into the square and help to direct foot traffic.

The swale bridges are constructed of a gabion base with a wooden top. The wire gabions, filled with field stones, also help to slow water flow within the swale during high volume storms, which prevents overflow and reduces stress on local rivers and streams. The bridge will be made of 2”x4” lumber sandwiched together using threaded rods and 3/8” spacers for water drainage. Synthetic wood will be used to connect the bridge to the foundation to prevent moisture rot.

Top: The swale bridge makes crossing a muddy swale simple.

Left: The swale in the centre of the square directs excess rainwater that the cistern cannot hold.

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2.14 Waste and Recycling Bins In order to maintain a clean and well cared for space, proper waste receptacles are important. Waste bins are located in high traffic areas to make their use convenient. The bins are made from composite material lumber and produced by PRODUCOL, a company based in San Jose. These structures are ideal for exterior use as they are made from recycled plastic creating a robust product that is resistant to rain, humidity, insects and fungus. The bins are raised off the ground to prevent wild and domestic animals from reaching the garbage. The small roof prevents rainwater from getting in.

Currently, Matapalo does not have a recycling program. There have been discussions regarding the possibility of building a recycling centre in Matapalo supported by the Matapalo Business Association. Some of the community members have received workshops in solid waste management from EARTH University. They learned about the recycling process and visited nearby recycling centres. The development association has also expressed their interest in building a recycling centre in the same area as the community centre.

The proposed waste receptacles can be purchased in three avail-

able sizes: small, standard and large. They can also be purchased with single, double or triple bins. The community could begin with one bin and add on another two when they begin recycling.

The Town Square Committee will be responsible for waste collection from the town square and coordinating its proper disposal.

The Municipality of Santa Cruz organizes the waste collection for the region but they do not have enough trucks to service small communities, such as Matapalo.

For waste removal, the TS Committee will need to research the options of either paying a private company for pick up or work with a local company to share disposal costs. For recyclable waste, the committee can consider a few options: 1) coordinate delivery to Reserva Conchal’s recycling centre; 2) coordinate with local individuals who pick up recyclables and sell to recycling companies; 3) sell it directly to large scale recycling companies in order to generate a profit. In order to collect enough recycling to off set the cost of pickup, a storage facility may be required.

Far Right: The triple bin system from Producol.

Right: The dimensions of the single bin system from Producol.

Design Features – 41

2.15 Lighting Lighting is a simple way to increase safety while also improving the function of a space. The areas selected to have lighting installed are the market shelter and the bus stop shelter as these areas would be most likely used during the night. Solar powered LED lighting systems have been selected to keep the square off the grid, which has had frequent black outs in recent years. In addition, the LED lights require very little energy and have an extremely long lifespan. The system comes with a sensor that registers daylight and automatically turns lights on and off. The lights will need replacement once every 10 years. i-SHELTER™ Solar Shelter Lighting by Carmanah Technologies ■■ The bus shelter will require 1 50 Watt solar Panel to power 2 LED lights.

■■ The market shelter will require 2 80-Watt Solar Panels to power 6 LED lights.

Above (four): The i-SHELTER systems is suitable for the needs of both the bus shelter and market shelter with adjustable LED lights.

Left: The solar panel houses the battery and electrical components of the system, making it simple to install.

42 – Design Features

The bus shelter lights provide a safe and well lit place to wait for the bus.

Design Features – 43

2.17 Event Board The event board will serve as a key communication tool in the community. Located at the south end of the square near the pay phones and bus stop, it provides a central spot for locals to advertise events and other notices. Through these event boards, the community can communicate with each other and people passing through the town effectively. The event boards can be made of a simple painted plywood sheets and would need to be replaced every few years. Notices could be attached with staples, tape, or pins.

The event board is located near the bus shelter for convenience.

44 – Design Features

Top, Top Right: The plaques display the trees’ features.

Above, Right: The concrete pillars are simple to make and robust.

2.18 Culture Plaques Families could sponsor a tree in the park and put their family name on a ceramic tile plaque near the tree. This will create a feeling of belonging and history for the generations to come. The plaques would be simple caste concrete molds with ceramic tile mosaics.

The plaques are used to label the trees in the arboretum. These will provide the names and information of each tree species in the park.

Design Features – 45

46 – Ecological Considerations

3.0 Ecological Considerations

Every feature of the square went through a process of evaluation and planning to utilize sustainable products and methods. When sustainable materials were not a practical option, local substitutes were found. Plans to include areas of restoration beyond the park are included and the use of diverse local plant species was imperative to protecting biodiversity. Potential effects of climate change were also considered when designing the square and storm water management was designed to deal with more extreme storms. Additionally, rainwater storage for irrigation was designed to address extreme heat during dry season.

3.1 Local Species The province of Guanacaste is one of the most deforested areas in Costa Rica. Less than 2% of the original tropical dry forest remains with most being cleared during the Spanish colonization and by cattle and agricultural industries during the 1950’s- 70’s. The current development boom has affected the availability of natural resources in the area resulting in the reduced abundance of resources such as wood and water. This has also affected the populations of local plant species and habitat for local wildlife. There has been a drastic reduction in the genetic and biological diversity, as well as the availability of ecological niches to serve as areas of refuge, reproduction, feeding and protection. Without intervention, additional plant and animal species will be lost.

Because of this, it was imperative to design features within the town square that would encourage the community to value and conserve its natural resources.

Trees There are three main areas designated for tree planting. Together, they cover approximately 2500 sq. metres. All of the tree species chosen for the landscape design are native to Guanacaste. Local species are ideal as they thrive in the varied climate with little maintenance.

They tolerate the extreme dry and wet seasons and increase biological diversity of the area.

The initial planting pattern will consist of a high percentage of moderate to fast growing species with a lower percentage of slow growth species. The fast growers will improve the environmental conditions for the slow growth species as well as increase their chance of survival. Once the slow growth species reach a certain maturity and height, they will compete with the fast growers for nutrients and block light to the lower trees. Consequently, the number of fast growers will decline, as they are intolerant to shade. Using this natural strategy, the square will have areas of shade sooner than simply just planting the slow growth trees first.

When planting the trees, a distance of at least 5 m must be kept between each of the slow growing species and approximately 2 to 3

48 – Ecological Considerations

m between the fast growing species. This will ensure the slow growth trees have space to develop into large, shade providing trees for the long-term and the fast growers can provide shade on a short-term basis.

Plants Species native to Guanacaste were chosen for their beauty and seasonal tolerance. The trend to use foreign and often invasive species for gardens must be avoided. By using only local species, residents will be reminded of the beautiful options they have that will also be beneficial to their local ecosystems.

Cenizaro

Guapinol

The Cenizaro tree belongs to the same family as the popular Guanacaste tree. Both have similar mushroom shapes and favour the fixation of nitrogen in soils. It is called rain tree as it closes its leaves when it starts raining. It is very popular as an ornamental tree, but one must be careful when planting this species as it has an extensive crown and root system and is sensitive to strong winds.

The Guapinol tree is well known for its hard, high quality wood which is used in construction and furniture. When planting this tree, the fruit must be considered as they are smelly when they open and very heavy, damaging whatever they fall on.

Guanacaste

Matapalo

The Guanacaste tree is Costa Rica’s national tree. It is easily recognized by its short, thick trunk, umbrella like form and ear shaped pods. Although it is deciduous, it can be tricked into keeping its leaves year round with constant watering during the dry season. It is a common species in open areas. The common Spanish name refers to the ear-shaped fruit. Its origin is from the Nahuatl language: “cuaúitl”, means tree and “nacaztli” means ear: Tree of Ears.

The genus Ficus has over 800 species, which are collectively known as figs. This tree is easily recognized for its mushroom shape and bright green foliage, which stays even during the dry season. It is an important species to include as the community is named after it. This tree has an important ecological role as countless species feed on its fruit.

Samanea saman

Enterolobium cyclocarpum

Hymenaea courbaril

Ficus goldmanii

Ecological Considerations – 49

Cortez Amarillo Tabebuia ochracea

Cortez Amarillo is one of the most popular ornamental species in Central America. It has simultaneous flowering with all the individual trees in one area flowering on the same day. It is ideal for restoration projects and erosion control as it has a high natural regeneration rate.

Tabebuia impetiginosa

Cortez Negro is one of the most popular ornamental species in Central America.

Like Corteza Amarillo, it has simultaneous flowering.

This species is a rare site since it has become highly endangered in Costa Rica.

Roble Sabana

Guarumo

The Roble Sabana is El Salvador’s national tree and a popular ornamental species in Central America. Like Cortez Amarillo and Cortez Negro, it has simultaneous flowering. The species is also popular because of its strong wood and medicinal properties.

The name Guarumo comes from yagrumo, which is of Antillean origin. Many of the names that the indigenoustribes used for plants were adapted by the Spaniards and diffused throughout Latin America. These new names displaced ancient common names given by the Maya, Aztec and Inca cultures.

Tabebuia rosea

50 – Ecological Considerations

Cortez Negro

Cecropia peltata

Ceibo Barrigon

Guayaquil

Pseudobombax septenatum

Pseudosamanea guachapele

The Barrigón is a very distinctive tree in Guanacaste. The common name “Barrigón” refers to the tree’s swollen base, an adaptation the species has developed to store water during the dry season.

Another distinctive characteristic is the presence of vertical green lines, most prominent in juveniles, which permit the tree to photosynthesize during the dry season, when it looses all of its leaves.

The Guayaquil tree is a medium to tall pioneer species, which has an extensive, flat crown. The species does best in plateaus and flatlands and is commonly used as a shade tree for cattle in pastures. The wood is a reddish gray colour and is used to make posts, fences, floors and furniture. As the majority of species in the Leguminosae family, this species improves soil quality by fixing nitrogen.

Ceiba

Caimito

The Ceiba is Guatemala’s national tree and is one of the largest trees in Tropical America. This tree’s size and spectacular, immense plank buttresses give it a majestic look and is a sacred symbol in Mayan mythology. It is ideal as a shade tree and for erosion control as its large buttresses stabilize soil. The fruit contain a fluffy material which is used as an alternative to down as filling in mattresses, pillows, upholstery and insulation.

This tree’s origin is thought to be in the Caribbean West Indies but is now naturalized from Southern Mexico to Panama. It is well known because of its fruits, which are usually eaten fresh and have an exquisite taste. This tree has great ornamental value given its round dense crown and foliage, which is a lustrous green on the upper surface and on the underside a striking, velvety golden colour.

Ceiba pentandra

Chrysophyllum cainito

Ecological Considerations – 51

Madrono

Calycophyllum candidissimum The Madrono tree is Nicaragua’s national tree. It is well known because of its flowers which have a sweet cinnamon aroma. In Nicaragua, the flowers are used and sold during “La Purisima” religious festivities. In Costa Rica, people use them as an ornament for their “portales”.

52 – Ecological Considerations

Aceituno

Sangrillo

Simarouba glauca

Pterocarpus michelianus

Aceituno is a medium sized evergreen tree. Its common name refers to its black olive-like fruit.

Its lustrous green foliage makes it an ideal ornamental species. Saplings are sturdy and can survive in all types of terrain and soils.

Its well-developed root system prevents soil erosion, supports soil microbial life and improves groundwater. The leaves and bark of this tree are used as a natural medicines in the tropics.

The sangrillo tree is an uncommon and endangered species in Guanacaste. Not much is known about this tree. The common name refers to the red sap the tree exudes.

This tree’s flowers have different colours each year, changing from pale yellow to bright orange.

The blooms attract countless bees and birds. Its root system is ideal for erosion control and soil stabilization.

Guaitil

Genipa americana Guaitil is a common tree in open areas of Guanacaste. It is an important species with a wide variety of uses. It has an attractive and distinct form: the branches expand horizontally and have terminal bunches of shiny green leaves and round shaped brownish fruits. From a cultural point of view, it is a very important species as its fruit produces a dark blue dye that was used to adorn ceramic pieces, wood, leather, and skin.

Caoba

Cocobolo

Swietenia macrophylla

Dalbergia retusa

Caoba or mahoagany is a medium to large tree that is well known for its high quality wood.

This species is highly endangered and cutting mature trees is prohibited. Its fruits are called sky fruit because they appear to hang upwards from the tree. Sky fruit concentrate is sold as a natural remedy that is said to improve blood circulation and skin condition.

Cocobolo or Rosewood is a medium to large tree. Its wood is popular due to its beauty and high value. Consequently, it has been heavily exploited and is highly endangered. It is ideal as an ornamental as its lustruous green foliage gives great shade.

Vainillo

Jicaro

Vainillo is a common evergreen that grows up to 7 m. It can be managed as a densely branched shrub or small tree.

It is well known for its bright yellow trumpet shaped flowers.

These hang in large clusters at the branch tips, bending the twigs into arches with their weight.

Since this species drops its blossoms before they wither, it will be placed along pathways so flowers will form a pool of gold on the ground.

Jicaro is a common tree growing up to 8 m tall. This tree’s spreading, arching branches, dark green foliage and whitish trunk make it very appealing as an ornamental. It has large purple trumpet shaped flowers growing on the bark. It is known for its large, cannonball-like fruit. The fruits are dried and used as containers for food and drink. They are also painted or carved and sold as unique art pieces, characteristic of the region.

Huevos de Caballo

Tempate

Huevos de caballo is an occasional evergreen tree, growing up to 15 m. The name translates directly into “horse eggs” and refers to the large, paired, hanging fruits. This species is an excellent accent tree because of its straight, cylindrical trunk, small size and large, pale-yellow flowers. Its large fruits are a spectacular site when mature, as they split open and expose hundreds of small black seeds with a striking, bright-orange aril.

Tempate is a perennial species, which can behave as a shrub or small tree, growing up to 5 m high. Its bright green foliage and rounded crown make it a great ornamental tree for parks and garden areas. This species is ideal for its high resistance to drought and ease of reproduction through stem cuttings.

Tecoma stans

Stemmadenia donnell-smithii

Crescentia alata

Jatropha curcas

Ecological Considerations – 53

3.2 Restoration Proposal To expand the positive environmental features of the square to the town and surroundings, an ecological restoration plan with compatible human activities such as bird watching and walking trails should be implemented. There are numerous spaces surrounding the town square that are barren and highly eroded with some being used as construction waste dumpsites. The restoration of these spaces with native trees will be an important conservation initiative. This will increase the biological and genetic diversity of the area flora and provide ecological niches for wildlife. In addition, an increase in tree coverage will reduce soil erosion, increase water absoption and improve air quality.

The square proposal includes planting a high percentage of fast

to moderate growth species and a lower percentage of slow growth trees. This same technique is recommended for restoration. The use of fast growing species is important, as they will improve soil and environmental conditions for the slow growth species. As the overall conditions improve, more slow growth species can be planted.

The majority of the land proposed to be involved in the restoration plan is not city property. To have a proposal such as this succeed, individual owners would have to be properly educated regarding the immediate impact of such a change and the long-term benefits. A significant amount of collaboration will be required to achieve such a goal, but the result will have immeasurable benefits.

Restoration sites Town Square Monkey Bridge

54 – Ecological Considerations

Left, Below: Areas surrounding the community centre could serve at a starting point for the restoration initiative.

Ecological Considerations – 55

Cerros Achioral ROAD TO REFUGIO

Cerros Colorado

Quebrada Sesteo ROAD TO SALINAS Current stormwater flow ROAD TO LOMAS

Quebrada Tamarindo ROAD TO LOMAS

River Stream - rainy season Primary road Secondary road Tertiary road Built Form Tree Bridge Topography

Río Matapalo ROAD TO HUACAS

Quebrada Piedra

Cerros Achioral

ROAD TO SALINAS Current stormwater flow ROAD TO LOMAS

River Stream - rainy season Primary road Secondary road Tertiary road Built Form Tree Drainage plan in matapalo town Bridge square: water currently pools in Topography

south end of square then flows through road side ditches to matapalo river.

56 – Design Features

3.3 Strom Water Management Costa Rica is characterized by two extreme seasons, rainy and dry as can be seen in the Guanacaste Monthly Preciptation Graph (top left). The issues with this kind of scenario are two fold, in the dry season vegetation must withstand high temperatures and harsh dehydration and in the rainy season, storm water must be controlled to avoid flooding, erosion of riverbanks, and contamination of water systems through polluted runoff. The ecosystem in the region is suited for its extreme weather, but new pressures from tourist developments and climate change are changing the delicate balance. Golf courses are popular in the area and these developments are consuming unprecedented amounts of groundwater leaving the Matapalo in habitants frequently without water in the dry season. Additionally, the National Meteorological Institute of Costa Rica predicts that the effects of climate change in Guanacaste will result in more extreme heat and dryness during the dry season and less frequent but more extreme storms during the rainy season. Finally, the Matapalo River is being degraded due to water quality issues combined with eroding riverbanks. As can be seen in the drainage plan (left) storm water in the undeveloped square currently pools in the south end and eventually drains to roadside ditches where it flows to meet the Matapalo river.

As a result of these factors the square has been designed to: 1. Minimize impervious surfaces The market and bus shelter roofs are the only impervious surfaces and account for less than 3% of the total land in the square.

All hard surfaces are made of compacted gravel, which allows water to infiltrate the ground. Additionally, the plan includes the addition of 23% tree covered surfaces. Trees reduce runoff substantially since they intercept and absorb rainwater. Increases in stromwater runoff can be seen in Runoff Hydrograph (bottom right).

2. Control flooding and improve runoff quality.

A large grass swale runs north/south from the central area of the square to direct runoff from large to the matapalo river.The grass swale is designed to manage up to a 100-year storm without flooding the square.

A hundred year has a 1% chance of happening. Additionally the swale will improve water quality and infiltrate runoff up for 99% of storms.

Photo of house built the on edge of Matapalo river taken during the dry season Design Features – 57

3. Collect and store rainwater for dry season irrigation Rainwater is collected from the market shelter and stored underground. During the dry season a manual pump is used to accesses the stored water to irrigate the planting beds or provide water for young trees. Although all the plants planned are native species and do not require irrigation it will provide insurance against predicted effects of climate change. Additionally, irrigation will help trees to grow and provide shade more quickly, and keep the space lush all year round.

4. Educate community about water cycle Local artist depicting water cycle on near catchment pool. Specifically the image should include rainwater harvesting unit, river, septic tanks, biogardens, groundwater, and a ground water well. Also a quote which is meaningful to the community could go be written on the side of the pool.

Extra runoff post development

Top: Monthly precipitation in Liberia, Guanacaste, Illustrates difference between wet and dry season. Data was used to calculate yield for rainwater storoage http://www.imn.ac.cr Bottom: Runoff Hydrograph for the town square. A hundred year storm has a 1 in 100 chance of occuring. Storm water controls are used to address difference in storm runnoff for before and after development.

58 – Design Features

Swales The park swale is designed to control storm runoff and direct it to the south side of the square into the roadside swales. The swale collects overflow from the rain catchment system as well as water from most areas of the square. The swale has a gentle slope and is lined with grass that gives it the ability to both manage heavy storms and prevent flooding and improve water quality of runoff on regular size storms. Other swales on the outside of the park are shaded so they instead will contain rocks and gravel to maintain the channel integrity. The swale bridges will be made of gabions covered with a wooden bridge. This provides safe and dry places for people to cross over the swale.

Runoff Direction Undergrade Pipe Swale Direction Rooftop Runoff

C

C

Underground Cistern

Underground Cistern C

C

Top: Park Swale - 1.2’ grass lined channel which dirrects runoff out of the park. Improves run off quality and increases infiltration.

C C

C

C

Bottom: Drainage plan shows park gradients and how runoff is directed To Matapalo River within the square.

C C

C

Design Features – 59

C To Matapalo River

Rainwater Catchment System, Plan and Section 60 – Design Features

Rain Water Collection Rainwater from the market shelter cascades into the catchment pool and then flows by gravity to underground storage. The water is accessed through an old-fashioned hand pump that can be connected to a hose for irrigation. The 10,000 gal storage unit is made of Atantis D-Raintank modules and lined with an impermeable membrane. The selection of 10, 000 gal of storage accounts for irrigating 1 gal per square foot per day of the planting beds. The D-Raintank modules are made of plastic and are specifically designed for underground storage in this environment as they can withstand swelling from the clay soil and will not break under seismic activity. They are also completely flexible, as units can be added or subtracted to make the storage size larger or smaller. Additionally, the community could easily connect another storage unit to the system in later years if they felt more water for irrigation was required.

The pool is designed to divert the first X gallons of water off the roof, which can contain dust and debris from the storage unit.

Once the pool fills up to the outlet the water flows to the underground storage tank. After the storm is over, the pool drains to avoid creating stagnant water where mosquitoes can breed. In the case of extremely large storms the pool is designed to overflow into a gravel channel outside the pool and is diverted underground to the swale.

Top: Evestrough Detail Bottom Left: D-Raintank Individual Module Detail Bottom Right: Matapalo Rainwater Storage Unit Detail Design Features – 61

62 – Implementation

4.0 Implementation

A phased implementation process is important to make the town square revitalization a feasible project.

Combined with the estimated budget, each phase has an associated cost for implementation. A committee responsible for the execution of the design and its maintenance must be created. This will ensure a smooth change from build project to maintained resource.

4.1 Community Committees The creation of committees that are responsible for running the project smoothly and maintaining it properly after completion is fundamental to the project’s success. The build process will require different types of committee member roles than the maintenance responsibilities, however the roles can change with the project’s progress. For projects that are large enough to involve outside contributions from businesses, NGO’s or government organizations, two types of committees can be useful. There will be a Town Square (TS) Committee consisting of community members and a Steering Committee with officials from donators and local government. The TS committee will inform the steering committee of the projects progress and needs.

The Steering Committee acts as an overseeing partner ensuring the project is progressing as expected The TS committee makes all major decisions, but ensures that the efforts and resources from external organizations are recognized and utilized to the fullest.

Town Square Committee The Town Square Committee will be imperative to effectively complete the town square project and maintain it afterwards. This committee should consist of local residents who are willing to make a commitment to the project. The following are suggestions for the different roles that will need to be filled for a successful town square.

Directors - One male, one female ■■ Schedules regular meetings ■■ Organizes elections of committee members ■■ Oversees the committee meetings ■■ Ensures all parties are heard ■■ Records meeting minutes Treasurer ■■ Records all spending and fundraising ■■ Prepares reports regularly of committee spending ■■ Seeks price quotes

64 – Implementation

Grounds Keeper ■■ Maintains the plant life and general cleanliness of the park ■■ Replace dead plants ■■ Researches and determines appropriate species of plants ■■ Plans community involvement projects ■■ Determines material, labour and time estimates for projects ■■ Schedules regular mechanical maintenance Design Lead ■■ Works with the community to make desired design changes ■■ Ensures changes are functional and the best fit for the overall design ■■ Could be an architectural student or part time positionz Events Coordinator ■■ Organizes a variety of events that will appeal to many ages ■■ Creates specialized events for skills development ■■ Works with other organizations (NGOs, schools) Waste Collection and Maintenance ■■ Organizes regular garbage and recycling pickup ■■ Creates groups to tidy the park on a rotating schedule ■■ Regular checks the physical components of the park and seeks appropriate and timely options for fixing ■■ Researches options that are green and affordable Market Coordinator ■■ Schedules market times and dates ■■ Arranges for different types of vendors ■■ Advertises market and vendors ■■ Sources required equipment for stalls ■■ Schedules set up and take down times

Marketing ■■ Produces posters for distribution with market and event details ■■ Advertises to local communities and resorts ■■ Keeps postings up to date Volunteer Coordinator ■■ Recruits new volunteers ■■ Coordinates times, skills and number of volunteers for events Child Representative ■■ Raises concerns from the school and local children ■■ Provides ideas for children to be involved Steering Committee The Steering Committee should meet on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. It should include the Town Square Committee Directors, members of local NGOs, municipal representatives and local supporting businesses. The Committee discusses the progress of current projects, areas that are in need of attention and how the members could contribute to these needs. The Committee would be responsible for informing the Town Square Committee of funding opportunities and potential projects. The Steering Committee will assist with the decision making process, but the ultimate decision lies with the TS Committee.

4.2 Phased Build Plan In collaboration with ACEPESA, the design for the town square will be implemented in stages, planned according to the rainy and dry seasons.

Season 1 (Rainy): June – Mid November 2008 ■■ Introduce town square plans to the Town Square Committee ■■ Arrange site inspections to properly evaluate the proposed

■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■

■■ ■■ ■■

grading and indentify potential issues related to seasonal extremes Evaluate proposed design for user needs and identify those features that need to be removed or adjusted Finalize a design that is culturally, financially and environmentally appropriate Organize opportunities for interested residents to participate in planning and implementation Hold a meeting to define volunteer roles and responsibilities Build a temporary market shelter, made from thatch and reclaimed lumber, to establish the market concept Organize a natural building workshop with a local or international foundation for the following summer Coordinate a skills workshop with the nursery staff from Reserva Conchal where participants can learn about maintenance and reproduction of plant and tree species to help them begin reproduction of shrubs and ground cover to be used next year.

Seek out donations of plants and young trees from AyA, Reserva Conchal and UNED to be stored safely to allow them to grow larger and stronger for planting the following year Define end of year tasks such as material sourcing and costing, volunteer labour, recruiting advertising and town history research Produce an elaborate final proposal document that includes a brief summary of the project and an exact budget in order to seek out potential funding or donations

Season 2 (Dry): December 2008 – April 2009 ■■ Hold a series of events in order to raise money for upcoming projects. These could include a raffle, a dance and a horse riding event (cabalgata) ■■ Grade the square and where heavy machinery is required, coordination with the Municipality of Santa Cruz or Reserva Conchal can be arranged Implementation – 65

66 – Implementation

Implementation – 67

68 – Implementation

Implementation – 69

■■ Define pathways and pedestrian areas within square and build underground pipes for rainwater system ■■ Build the market shelter and rainwater catchment basin ■■ Construct market carts from reclaimed lumber and hold a contest for the best decorated ■■ Organize a grounds keeping and maintenance committee responsible for the maintenance of the square, tree planting and landscape design implementation ■■ Hold a natural building workshop for cob and rammed earth structures where participants will learn how the cob bench and retaining wall will be built ■■ Organize a group from the workshop to teach other interested residents and neighbouring communities Season 3 (Rainy): May – November 2009 ■■ Build planting beds, plant shrubs and ground cover ■■ On June 15th, Tree Day in Costa Rica, hold a tree planting event with local schools, NGOs, private and public institutions and local community members ■■ Coordinate construction of tree plaques with school children and parents ■■ During month of July, Guanacaste celebrates their annexation from Nicaragua providing excellent opportunitites for holding fundraising events ■■ Install rainwater storage cistern, pump and filter system Season 4 (Dry): December 2009 – April 2010 ■■ Hold a series of events in order to raise additional money for project continuation ■■ Build bus shelter ■■ Organize a second workshop to build cob bench in bus stop Right: An example of a cob bench being covered in a mosaic tile finish.

70 – Implementation

■■ Hold a workshop for building with tires and begin designing the children’s playground with schoolchildren and parents ■■ Construct playground ■■ Hold a contest for a new town square name ■■ On March 22, National Water Day, hold a celebration for the completion of project and demonstrate how the rainwater tank works during the dry season.

■■ Hold a contest for an inspirational water quote to be placed near the rainwater system 4.3 Building Materials To reduce costs and be environmentally conscious, most of the square features are designe to be made with recycled, reclaimed or locally available materials. Methods such as rammed earth tires and cob are returning to the mainstream as people are seeking low impact building materials.

Rammed earth Rammed earth is an age-old building technique that uses earth as the prime material. This method is ideal for Matapalo as the required materials can be obtained locally and are inexpensive. They are simple to learn and require few tools, meaning the community can do it themselves. If the structures are damaged, they can be repaired

quickly. Although they are labour intensive, these methods will empower the community and form stronger ties between its members.

Cob Cob will be used to build the bus stop bench. Cob consists of manually mixed clay-rich earth, sand, straw and water. Because there is no standard form, cob lends itself to organic shapes. It can be used to sculpt walls and ovens or make curved structures.

Cob is sensitive to direct rain and water contact, but if provided time to dry out completely, it can withstand harsh weather conditions. Cob is generally accepted as having moderate earthquake resistance the exact proportions needed to make a proper cob mixture differ depending on the source of the earth. Sand content should range from 50 – 85%, clay from 10 – 40% and straw is usually 10% of the mixture. It is necessary to test the materials available on site in

order to evaluate whether their properties are adequate. It is best to have an experienced professional assist with the initial tests.

A cob structure requires a sealed shell, usually made from a lime/ plaster mixture. This shell protects the more delicate under layer from water damage and wear. Decorative patterns can be imprinted or glass and tile can be imbedded in the shell before it dries. If the method is found to be robust enough, additional structures can be built.

Straw Straw will be needed for the cob mixture in order to increase its tensile strength. Rice straw is considered a waste material in Costa Rica and is usually burned or fed to cows. The straw could be obtained from the nearby farms for free. It can also be purchased from the Guanacaste rice cooperative.

Sand River sand will be used in the cob mixture. It can be obtained from the Tempisque Sand Association, an organized cooperative that has the exclusive right to extract sand from the Tempisque River. The association also provides information for transportation. The sand could purchased from Baquore, the hardware store in Huacas, approximately 5 km away.

Above: An unfinished cob bench with the stone base.

Rammed Earth Rammed earth construction involves a process of compressing a damp mixture of sand, gravel and clay into an externally supported frame or mold, such as tires. As with cob, the material is stabilized with lime or cement.

The earthen material has to be compacted to approximately 50% of its original height. This can be done manually, making it an extremely labour intensive technique, or with a pneumatically powered backfill tamper. Once the earth has been compressed, it requires a series of warm dry days to cmopletely dry and harden.

Implementation – 71

Tires The proposed playground and retaining wall will use reclaimed tires.

These can be obtained from locations in Huacas or Santa Cruz. Tires are a major waste material in Costa Rica. Currently, there is only one company, LLantion that reclaims used tires and produces large bails of compressed tires. Most of the reclaimed tires come from the central provinces, as transportation of old tires from farther provinces, like Guanacaste, is too expensive. Consequently, tires in Guanacaste are burned or disposed of in dumps and rivers.

Workshops can be organized to promote the use of tires as a building material. Community members will be able to see for themselves how tires can reduce overall construction costs for projects. More so, this will have environmental benefits, as it will reduce the quantity of tires that are discarded.

Trees All of the chosen tree species for the town square are native to Guanacaste. Small trees, ranging from 50 – 70 cm can be obtained through donations. There are numerous governmental institutions, such as AyA and MINAE, as well as private developments such as Reserva Conchal, which support tree-planting projects by donating the trees, labour and transportation. Not all species in the planting plan may be available through this method, so making alterations may be required.

More expensive medium to large sized trees (1 – 4 m) will need to be purchased. To reduce costs, the community could identify larger individual trees in the surrounding areas and transplant them. to the square. A smaller tree would be planted in the original spot to replace it. This would be a simple and inexpensive strategy for obtaining larger trees.

The community could purchase shrubs and ground covers from nearby producers. They could also plan to collect and reproduce these themselves, which would reduce costs significantly.

Stones Quartzite stones, ¾” and ¼”, will be used on pathways and pedestrian 72 – Implementation

A

B

Field stone (A) and quartz (B) will be used different areas of the square.

traffic zones such as the market. These are available for purchase from numerous local providers. Alongside the pathways, 8” fieldstones will be used as a border to retain the finer stones within the pathways.

These stones could be collected from the area and transported to the square or purchased.

Gabions Gabions are rectangular wire mesh containers filled with large rocks.

They can be used to form flexible and permeable structures, which are used for erosion control, bank stabilization and channel lining.

Gabion structures will be used as the main support for the swale bridges. They provide adequate drainage, filter large debris and slow down water, reducing the loads that go into local rivers.

Concrete Concrete will be used in structural features such as the market shelter footings and park benches. It is affordable and locally produced.

Concrete is a mixture of Portland cement, water, fine aggregate (sand) and coarse aggregate (stone). These components are mixed in specific ratios to achieve the desired specification.

Wood-Plastic Composite Wood-Plastic Composite (WPC) lumber will be used in the swale bridge structure, picnic tables and waste bins. Wood-plastic composite is a wood-like product made from recycled plastics (HDPE, PVC, PET) mixed with wood wastes such as sawdust and woodchips. The

resulting material can be molded to meet almost any desired shape or carved using conventional woodworking tools.

Its most common use is in outdoor structures for its highly durability and resistance to moisture, rotting and insects. It does not require anticorrosive or pest control substances. This material also does not require paint as it is manufactured in a variety of colours and earth tones.

Steel Steel is one of the most common and popular building materials in Costa Rica. Although expensive, steel has replaced wood in the majority of communal structures as it is much more durable and readily available. Galvanized steel has become very popular in coastal areas due to its anti-corroding properties. The entire structure for the market shelter will be made of steel. Standard sized pieces can be purchased from the Huacas hardware store or larger pieces could be shipped in from San Jose, as was done for the community centre construction.

Corrugated steel will be used for all roofing as it is the most common roofing material. It is lightweight and has a high strength to weight ratio. It is durable and sheets that are not covered with a protective coating, the oxidization of the base material forms a protective patina.

Although steel is not a highly environmental friendly material, it is appropriate for the area as local communities see it as a symbol of quality. Additionally, it can be recycled and reused.

Lumber Melina (Gmelina arborea) is an exotic, fast growing tree, which is grown in Costa Rica for commercial purposes. It is moderately resistant to decay and resistant to termites.

Melina wood will be used for the bus shelter structure as well as playground and swale. Matapalo community members use this wood as teak prices have become too expensive. It also grown locally in a plantation.

Cana Brava Cana Brava (Gynerium sagittatum) is a tall grass that grows up to 10m in height. The long, straight stems were used as reinforcement for adobe walls. This material is still used in ceilings and as roofing for outdoor structures.

Cana brava will be used as the main roofing material for the market shelter overhang. It will also run along the upper west side of the market, allowing for more ventilation.

Ceramic Tiles Broken ceramic tiles will be used to decorate the cement and cob benches, which will give them a more artistic feel. Ceramic tiles can be obtained from a ceramic tile store in Huacas, which donates broken tiles for these types of projects.

Left: Corrugated steel used as roofing in a structure in Guanacaste.

Right: Cana Brava is a common roofing material providing shade and air flow.

Implementation – 73

Cost Estimate per Feature – List each feature and each material required in each feature * 1 US $ = 521 colones

Feature Retaining Wall

Material

Gravel Tires Pre-mixed concrete Earth River Sand TOTAL Pathways/ Pedestrian !” quartz stone ways 34” quartz stone Fieldstones (8”) TOTAL Cob Bench (30") Clay River sand Reclaimed concrete Rice straw Pre mixed concrete Fieldstones Broken Ceramic tiles TOTAL Cob Bench (6") Clay River sand Rice straw Pre-mixed concrete Fieldstones Broken Ceramic tiles TOTAL Bus Shelter 2" x 6" x 16" Lumber (Melina) 6" x 6" x 12' Lumber 3' x 9' Corrugated Steel (#28) Pre mixed concrete TOTAL Market Shelter 4" x 4" x 19' steel member 2" x 4" x 19' steel 74 – Implementation member 4" x 8" x 19' steel member

Quantity

Unit

170 800 100 500 250

3

Cost per Unit

m Tires 42.5 kg Bag m3 m3

USD$ $14 FREE $10 FREE $27

CRC !

7,500 FREE 4,925 FREE 14,000

71 413 2500

m3 m3 Stones

$26 $26 FREE

13,500 13,500 FREE

4 12 0.5 12 36 100 30

m3 m3 m3 Bales 42.5 kg Bag Stones m2

$27 FREE $3 $10 FREE FREE

FREE 14,000 FREE 1,563 4,925 FREE FREE

1 2 1 12 30 2

m3 m3 Bales 42.5 kg Bag Stones m2

FREE $27 $3 $10 FREE FREE

FREE 14,000 1,563 4,925 FREE FREE

26

Member

$19

6 27 24 12

Member ft 2 sheets 42.5 kg Bag

7

Total

9,875

$324.00 FREE $36.00 $360.00 FREE FREE $720.00 FREE $54.00 $36.00 $120.00 FREE FREE $210.00 $494.00

CRC !

1,275,000 FREE 492,500 FREE 3,500,000 ! 5267500 958,500 5,575,500 FREE ! 6534000 FREE 168,000 FREE 18,756 177,300 FREE FREE ! 364056 FREE 28,000 18,756 59,100 FREE FREE ! 105,856 256,750

$23 $22

12,000 11,290

$138.00 $528.00

72,000 270,960

$10

4,925

Member

$62

32,365

$120.00 $1,280.00 $434.00

59,100 ! 658,810 226,555

50

Member

$38

19,985

$1,900.00

999,250

31

Member

$167

87,050

$5,177.00

2,698,550

2

USD$ $2,380.00 $1,000.00 FREE $6,750.00 $10,130.00 $1,840.00 $10,702.00 FREE $12,542.00

TOTAL $210.00 ! 105,856 2" x 6" x 16" Lumber 26 Member $19 9,875 $494.00 256,750 (Melina) 6" x 6" x 12' Lumber 6 Member $23 12,000 $138.00 72,000 Cost Estimate per Feature each feature and each material required in each feature * 1 US 11,290 $ = 521 colones 3' –x List 9' Corrugated 27 ft 2 $22 $528.00 270,960 Steel (#28) 24 sheets Feature Material Quantity Unit Cost per Unit Total Pre mixed concrete 12 42.5 kg Bag $10 4,925 $120.00 59,100 USD$ CRC !

USD$ CRC !

TOTAL $1,280.00 ! 658,810 3 Retaining Wall Gravel 170 m $14 7,500 $2,380.00 1,275,000 Market Shelter 4" x 4" x 19' steel 7 Member $62 32,365 $434.00 226,555 Tires 800 Tires FREE FREE FREE member Pre-mixed concrete 100 42.5 kg Bag $10 4,925 $1,000.00 492,500 2" x 4" x 19' steel 50 Member $38 19,985 $1,900.00 999,250 Earth 500 m3 FREE FREE FREE FREE member 3 River 250 m $27 14,000 $6,750.00 3,500,000 4" x 8"Sand x 19' steel 31 Member $167 87,050 $5,177.00 2,698,550 TOTAL $10,130.00 ! 5267500 member Pathways/ Pedestrian !” quartz stone 71 m 32 $26 13,500 $1,840.00 958,500 Cana Brava 78 $50 26,050 $3,700.00 2,031,900 ways 34” stone 413 m23 $26 13,500 5,575,500 3' x quartz 9' Corrugated 2043 ft $22 11,290 $10,702.00 $39,952.00 20,502,640 Steel (#28) (8”) Fieldstones 2500 Stones FREE FREE FREE FREE 1816 Sheets TOTAL ! 6534000 Pre-mixed concrete 48 42.5 kg Bag $10 4,925 $12,542.00 $480.00 236,400 Cob Bench (30") Clay 4 m3 FREE $51,643.00 ! 26,715,645 FREE TOTAL 3 River 12 m $27 14,000 $324.00 168,000 Swale Bridge 1" x 4"sand x 10' Plastic 6 Member $19 9,875 $494.00 256,750 Wood Reclaimed concrete 0.5 m3 FREE FREE FREE FREE Rice straw 12 Bales $3 1,563 $36.00 18,756 2" x 4" x 12' 60 Member $8 3,900 $480.00 234,000 Pre mixed concrete 36 42.5 kg Bag $10 4,925 $360.00 177,300 Lumber Fieldstones 100 Stones FREE FREE FREE FREE Gavions 24 Gavion $130 67,730 $3,120.00 1,625,520 2 Broken Ceramic tiles 30 m FREE FREE FREE FREE TOTAL $720.00 ! 364056 $3,663.00 ! 1,892,343 3 Cob Bench (6") Clay 1 m FREE FREE FREE FREE Plants Trees (50 cm) 200 Tree River sand 2 m3 $27 14,000 $54.00 28,000 Rice straw 1 Bales 1,563 $36.00 18,756 40 - 50 cm Icaco 2000 Shrub $3 1,500 $6,000.00 3,000,000 (Chrysobalanus icaco) Pre-mixed concrete 12 42.5 kg Bag $10 4,925 $120.00 59,100 Fieldstones 30 Stones FREE FREE FREE FREE 30-40 cm Ground 5000 Plant $1.50 600 $7,500.00 3,000,000 cover Broken(Lantana Ceramic tiles 2 m2 FREE FREE FREE FREE camara) TOTAL $210.00 105,856 $13,500.00 !!

6,000,000 Bus Shelter 2" x 6" x 16" Lumber 26 Member $19 9,875 $494.00 256,750 GRAND TOTAL $93,688.00 ! 47,538,210 (Melina) 6" x 6" x 12' Lumber 6 Member $23 12,000 $138.00 72,000 3' x 9' Corrugated 27 ft 2 $22 11,290 $528.00 270,960 Steel (#28) 24 sheets Pre mixed concrete 12 42.5 kg Bag $10 4,925 $120.00 59,100 TOTAL $1,280.00 ! 658,810 Market Shelter 4" x 4" x 19' steel 7 Member $62 32,365 $434.00 226,555 member 2" x 4" x 19' steel 50 Member $38 19,985 $1,900.00 999,250 member 4" x 8" x 19' steel 31 Member $167 87,050 $5,177.00 Implementation 2,698,550 – 75 member Cana Brava 78 m2 $50 26,050 $3,700.00 2,031,900 3' x 9' Corrugated 2043 ft 2 $22 11,290 $39,952.00 20,502,640 Bus Shelter

Cost Estimate per Material – List each materials, total volume require for entire project and the total cost for that volume

Material

Provider

Sand Quartz Stones (1/4 “) Quartz Stones (3/4 “) Tires Gabions Gravel Pre mixed concrete (42.5kg/94lb) Rice straw 3' x 9' Corrugated Steel (#28) Fieldstones (8”) Reclaimed concrete Earth Broken Ceramic tiles 2" x 4" x 12' Lumber (Melina) 2" x 6" x 16! Lumber (Melina) 6" x 6" x 12' Lumber (Melina) Steel (4" x 4" x 19') Steel (2" x 4" x 19') Steel (4" x 8" x 19') Cana Brava (Gynerium sagittatum) 1" x 4" x 10' Plastic Wood Trees (50 cm) Icaco (Chrysobalanus icaco shrubs: 40-50cm) Ground cover (Lantana camara): 30-40 cm

Heiner Acevedo Heiner Acevedo Heiner Acevedo Super Servicio Maccaferri Heiner Acevedo Baquore Rafael Abarca Baquore Local Reserva Conchal Reserva Conchal Huacas Ceramic Store

TOTAL

Quantity Unit m3 m3 m3 Tires Gabions m3 42.5 kg Bag Bales Sheets

Aserradero de Huacas Aserradero de Huacas Baquore Baquore Baquore “Delfin” Producol Reserva Conchal/AyA Carmen Santos

264 71 413 800 24 170 208 13 1816 2630 0.5 500 32 60 26 6 7 50 31 78 6 200 2000

m3 m3 m2 Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Trees Shrub

Vivero Diria

5000

Plant

Cost per Unit

Total USD$ $7,128.00 $1,840.00 $10,702.00 FREE $3,120.00 $2,380.00 $2,080.00 $39.00 $39,952.00 FREE FREE FREE FREE $480.00 $494.00 $138.00 $434.00 $1,900.00 $5,177.00 $3,700.00 $494.00

$3

CRC !

14,000 13,500 13,500 FREE 67,730 7,500 4,925 1,563 11,290 FREE FREE FREE FREE 3,900 9,875 12,000 32,365 19,985 87,050 26,050 9,875 FREE 1,500

$6,000.00

CRC !

3,696,000 958,500 5,575,500 FREE 1,625,520 1,275,000 1,024,400 20,319 20,502,640 FREE FREE FREE FREE 234,000 256,750 72,000 226,555 999,250 2,698,550 2,031,900 256,750 FREE 3,000,000

$1.50

600

$7,500.00

3,000,000

USD$ $27 $26 $26 FREE $130 $14 $10 $3 $22 FREE FREE FREE FREE $8 $19 $23 $62 $38 $167 $50 $19

$93,558.00

76 – Implementation

! 47,453,634

Implementation – 77

78 – Community Approach

5.0 Community Approach

The vision for the revitalized town square is one that includes an active community making proactive decisions to maintain their culture and improve their environment. Through this effort, other small towns could develop their own town projects.

5.1 Cultural Strategies With the creation of the new town square, there will be opportunities to engage the residents in cultural and environmentally minded activities. Many local NGO’s could hold seminars that would teach new skills and give exposure to locally available resources.

Community Workshops A professional may know about natural building and sustainable technologies, but they must rely on local knowledge in order to properly implement them. A community-based workshop is the ideal method of transferring and adapting new ideas and projects to a small rural community. Residents are experts on the current best methods and regional information, including local needs, climate, environmental concerns or challenges, social issues, how people live and work and what is the best method of implementation within their communities.

Within the town square design, there are many features, such as the solar panels and cob bench, which would be best implemented through community-based workshops. There are many international organizations that organize hands-on workshops in rural communities such Pangea Partnership and Solar Energy International. These organizations partner with capable in-country institutions such as government agencies, NGOs and grassroots groups, who are already working with rural communities. Consulting local partners and the community is necessary to assess the potential of the project and its cultural appropriateness.

For this type of workshop, international participants pay a fee, which covers their travel expenses, lodging and food, course content, materials, tools, equipment and allows local community members to participate free of charge. Any funds remaining are used for research and mentoring. This experience is rewarding for both volunteers and local community members providing is an intense cultural experience learning and working side-by-side. The goal is to have participants apply their new skills and teach others.

An important aspect to consider when choosing an organization is the willingness to continue to monitor the buildings they helped 80 – Community Approach

construct and track the success of their students.

Culture Plaques Creating a feature of the trees in the square will bring attention to the many different species that are beautiful and native to the region. Placing permanent tree plaques that identify the tree species and provide additional information will inform residents and visitors about the regions amazing natural resources. These plaques could also be placed in other areas of the town to create a tree tour and include other flora.

The use of permanent plaques could also be helpful in remembering the town’s history and its families. Local folklore is too easily lost between generations. By creating plaques that record important events and people, the town’s rich history will not be forgotten. This will give the town a sense of pride and nurture a desire to continue positive activities.

Events The development of community events surrounding the new town square will create a connection between the community and the project. As the square does not currently have a formal name, holding a competition for naming it would engage the residents’ creativity and provide a reason to learn some history.

In conjunction with the initiation of the square project, an annual festival to celebrate the town square should be started. Music, food and children’s event would bring the community together and attract visitors as well. The funds raised would go towards the square’s development and maintenance. Informing the festival patrons of exactly what aspects the money will be benefitting will instill a sense of connection with the project.

5.2 Community User Scenarios Weekday After dropping off her daughter at school, Maria Fanny walks over to the supermarket and picks up some groceries for dinner. On her

way out, she catches a glimpse of her two friends, Mayela and Flor, sitting on one of the picnic tables in the market shelter. Mayela waves and whistles, a signal for Ma Fanny to come and join them.

All three women sit under the cool market shade, share dinner plans and discuss what goods they will sell at the Saturday market.

Before they know, it is 11:30 and they run off to pick up their kids from school.

Don Balbino Lopez, president of the Matapalo Development Association, calls Minor Bustos, currently in charge of the market, to set aside next Thursday for their monthly meeting with the community. It is usually held the first Thursday of every month but this day has already been set aside by Dona Marina Barrantes, who is organizing a crafts workshop for women of the community. After agreeing on Wednesday, Don Balbino makes flyers. He walks to the plaza and posts a flyer on the event boards, located at the market and public phone booths.

Saturday By 7 a.m., most of the spots for carts and stands in the market shelter are occupied; everyone is busy getting organized for opening. The town square committee president greets the vendors collects the market participation fee. Most vendors are local community members but there are a few who have come from other communities, like Villa Real and El Llano. By 9 a.m., the market is buzzing with people of all ages. Some come to buy local baked goods while others are there to socialize. Most of the people are local community members but one can also find tourists who, on their way to Playa Grande, spot the market and stop in. By midday most of the vendors have finished cleaning up their spot and head home for lunch.

Sunday After mass, the congregation walks towards the market shelter for lunch. Each Sunday, a different group of community members cooks and prepares a luncheon, which they sell to other community members. The funds that they collect will go to the Church committee.

5.3 Principles to be Shared The strength of this project is not only the finished design, but also the method used to create the design. The research phase, the community charrette, feedback incorporation and environmental considerations were key to the production of a culturally appropriate and ecologically sensitive design. Carrying out a design project in this manner provides the end users a connection to the process and ensure their needs are met.

Local To initiate a project such as a town square revitalization, significant research must be done in many areas of the project’s development.

This includes user needs, industry growth, the environment and social stresses. Most importantly, the users needs and wants for the space must be considered. Open discussions with the local users will identify the current uses and potential activities that could add value to the project. It will also be important to talk with local businesses to address their needs or desires. This communication will create a connection with the project and secure volunteers and donators early in the project’s development. The interest and support generated will help to keep the project moving forward and serve as a reason to stay focused.

The next step in research involves finding projects that have been successfully completed in similar communities. Understanding the funding model used and the methods of building will help to create an appropriate plan. Enquiry into the problems the project experienced and the measures required to remedy the situation is important. This kind of information will help to prevent the same problems, saving time and money. By contacting the organizations that carried out the projects, labour and resource information can be obtained.

Challenges occur with any project, so creating contingency plans is important. This kind of thought process early in the project will create a flexible design that will be successful despite minor changes or setbacks. The project requires a final design that is adhered to, but should a component need to be changed or removed, the project can Community Approach – 81

still move ahead.

After extensive research has been carried out, preliminary designs can be created. Having multiple conceptual plans will provide the users with choice and make getting feedback a more simple process.

Providing just one design that is not well received can jeopardize the project. Once the feedback is collected and analyzed, one new design should be created. This design should best incorporate the suggestions from the user input Not every detail needs to be included, but repeated comments should be addressed. The final design should be shown to the users for general acceptance and to identify any major issues. Once the final design is complete, implementation steps can begin.

Before any community project can begin, a central committee that will organize and implement the plan must be established. The committee should consist of two project leaders to avoid control conflicts. Each committee member will need a defined roll and list of responsibilities. The rolls will assist with delegating workloads and create an efficient management group. The establishment of a management committee gives the project credibility and a solid base with which to start. This committee must also work as transparently as possible. Providing open books and maintaining an honest relationship with investors and other community members further strengthens the projects viability.

The following are examples of committee members and their responsibilities. However, each project will require different specialist positions that are specific to the project.

Treasurer ■■ Records all spending and fundraising ■■ Prepares financial reports regularly ■■ Analyzes price quotes Construction Coordinator ■■ Estimates costs ■■ Researches new techniques and materials ■■ Organizes build timelines

Director - Two ■■ Schedules regular meetings ■■ Organizes elections of committee members ■■ Oversees the committee meetings ■■ Ensures all parties are heard ■■ Works directly with funding agencies and volunteer groups ■■ Collaborates with construction coordinator to determine realistic build phasing

The research of similar projects should highlight funding options that would be best for the new project. Seeking out NGO funding, local business support or government grants will provide the most secure funding schemes. Holding fundraising events will provide the community with an opportunity to become involved and contribute to the project’s progress. The fundraising efforts should start when there is a concrete concept and consistent support from the community. Not all design decisions will need to be made at this point, but the more complete the project plan is, the more credible the project

82 – Community Approach

Events Coordinator ■■ Organizes community based events for all ages ■■ Develops new event ideas ■■ Works with other organizations (NGOs, schools) Waste Collection and Maintenance Team ■■ Organizes regular garbage and recycling pickup ■■ Regularly checks physical components and arranges maintenance Volunteer Coordinator ■■ Recruits new volunteers ■■ Coordinates times, skills and number of volunteers for events Child Representative ■■ Raises concerns from the school and local children ■■ Provides ideas for children to be involved

is and the easier it will be to interest financial supporters.

Financial goals must be set in conjunction with a phased build plan. Starting with smaller projects within the larger plan will give investors immediate return on investment. If the project were to be structured to only begin building when all money has been raised, investors, supporters can lose interest, ultimately risking the overall success of the project.

National There are many ways that Costa Rica can support successful town revitalization projects like this proposed town square development.

It is paramount that the government support and encourage these kinds of projects because they help to sustain vibrant and traditional culture and ecosystems, especially at this time when they are being stressed by tourism and non-locally owned developments. One option is for the government to provide project grants to help communities fund their projects. Representatives from the funders could contribute locally by sitting on the a steering committee. Additionally, with this method the government would be able to influence the quality and type of projects by using strict grant requirements.

Furthermore, a tax break on materials, microfinance loans or the development of an organization to help facilitate material donations from developers, could help communities to afford public space development projects.

Another important area of influence the government has is the implementation and enforcement of environmental laws. Both communities and developments must work together to prevent environmental degradation. Costa Rica’s tourism industry is heavily based on their reputation for ecological magnificence. It makes sense that tourist developments with their strong fincancial position would be held to strict environmental standards. Specifically, laws that protect water resources, including groundwater, rivers and beaches, and forests are extremely important. Towns like Matapalo are lacking in infrastructure in water, waste water and storm water management.

The government must provide funding to develop this infrastructure or the local water quality will be further degraded.

Global The process used to complete this project can be learned from and used as a model for a similar project. The design team consisted of the following members: ■■ Biologist from Costa Rica ■■ Landscape Architect ■■ Environmental Engineer ■■ Biochemist The process was as follows: ■■ Background Research – Included Costa Rica, Guanacaste region and Matapalo in the areas of environment and culture ■■ Problem Definition – Central public space in town (town square) is lacking infrastructure and town’s culture and environment are weakening due to pressure from local tourist developments ■■ Design Goals - Determine the desired impact of the project: 1) Create income generation within town 2) More functional space for outdoor social activity 3) Strengthen cultural identity of town ■■ Design Research – Researched Matapalo, other town squares in the region and public space design ■■ Preliminary Designs – Three very different options were designed in order to generate feedback from community ■■ Feedback Charrette –Presented options to community, received feedback and performed primary research ■■ Design Analysis of Feedback – Analyzed results and determined advantages and disadvantages of each design ■■ Research Team Charrette – With all information gathered, performed idea generation with research team ■■ Design Revision – Created one final design that incorporated the feedback ■■ Feedback Experts – Consulted with industrial designers, architects, landscape architects, engineers, international development specialists, materials suppliers and local NGOs to further strenthen the design Community Approach – 83

■■ Design Revision – Design was revised several times after expert feedback ■■ Feedback – A report was generated for community approval before design finalization ■■ Design Revision – Design was adjusted to include community feedback ■■ Presentation to Client / Proposal for Partner Commitments – Presentation of the project to the Costa Rican government, community and other organizations involved, with a proposal for funding and partner NGO involvement

84 – Community Approach

Community Approach – 85