Architectural firms have been deeply questioning the future projections reshaped by lockdown and the new dynamics of how the city and territory are experienced. On this occasion, ruta4 taller from Pereira, Colombia, presents their perspective on how the profession is practiced in the country and their shift toward a more participatory practice for the benefit of local communities. The Pereira-based architecture studio has built exemplary collaborative projects, such as the taller de Urbanautas and the Casa Ensamble Chacarrá, demonstrating through experience that empathetic architecture is a highly viable approach.
The path we follow begins with the community, which we understand as a group of people with distinct skills who choose to come together for a common goal—be it in a neighborhood, a public square, a street, or online. We recognize that we are part of a changing ecosystem cyclically affected by social, economic, and biological crises that shape our professional practice. We have raised questions and taken action, resulting in diverse strategies where architecture serves as a symbolic device for participation. By valuing the perspective of those who inhabit these territories, we engage in an empathetic dialogue to make collective decisions that safeguard the cultural expressions of each context.
