Umbrales entre la casa y la calle vivienda de interés social rural en Puerto Meluk – medio Baudó, chocó

Abstract

The project “Thresholds Between the House and the Street” represents a deep reflection on the relationship between housing and public space in rural contexts such as Puerto Meluk. Its development made it possible to understand that the true value of architecture lies in its ability to respond to everyday life and to the natural and social environment that hosts it.

First, the analysis of intermediate spaces revealed that thresholds—such as porches, corridors, and terraces—are more than simple transitional areas: they are places for gathering, conversation, and production that build neighborliness and strengthen the social fabric. Recognizing their value made it possible to understand that, in communities like those of the Baudó region, architecture should encourage permanence and coexistence rather than isolation.

Second, the study of architectural devices such as windows, doors, and shutters showed that these elements not only regulate ventilation or light, but also mediate the relationship between the private and the public. Their proper orientation and design contribute to thermal comfort, privacy, and a sense of belonging. In this way, housing becomes a living organism that breathes, engages in dialogue, and adapts to its surroundings.

Finally, the design of the three housing typologies (agricultural, fishing, and commercial) consolidated the intention to create a dignified and flexible habitat. Each typology responds to local ways of life, integrating native materials such as wood from the Chocó region and bioclimatic strategies that take advantage of cross ventilation, elevated floors, and solar protection. These technical and cultural solutions materialize an architecture consistent with the climate, economy, and identity of the territory.

From an academic perspective, this work reaffirms that the role of the architect goes beyond designing buildings: it involves understanding, listening to, and representing communities. In territories such as Chocó, the architect becomes a mediator between tradition and innovation, between culture and sustainability.

Thus, “Thresholds Between the House and the Street” not only proposes a housing model, but also a way of inhabiting the territory with dignity, respecting its history, climate, and people. This project is an invitation to build an architecture that responds to the reality of the country, recognizes diversity, and, from the local scale, contributes to the social and environmental transformation of Colombia.