Kika (Weronika) Zdziarska
Explore Lab
Building Bonds, Building Safety: A Bamboo Pavilion Fostering Communities of Care
This project addresses the pressing issue of women’s fear of violence in public spaces, aiming to enhance perceptions of safety and freedom. Through four months of fieldwork, including over 30 interviews, I developed design and planning strategies which informed the concept for pavilions dedicated to women. Strategically integrated into Medellín's infrastructure, they form a network of transformative spaces, which women are encouraged to build, manage and use according to their needs. The project is tailored for community construction, fostering the creation of bonds during the building process and subsequent use. Bamboo was selected as the primary building material because of its environmental benefits and its potential to empower women in construction due to it being lightweight, safe and ease of use. Complementing bamboo, biobased materials and demountable joints were proposed to enhance circularity. By addressing both social and environmental aspects, the project contributes to a more equitable and resilient urban environment.