Ecuador: Habitat and Construction

About this Travel Course

The Universidad Tecnológica Equinoccial (UTE) invited RISD to Ecuador to participate in a collaborative design workshop. The workshop explored the relationship between environment and making. The studio was hosted by the Selva Viva Foundation, located in Tena. The foundation’s mission is the preservation of the local native environment. This includes the promotion of rainforest preservation through educational programs, an animal rescue and rehabilitation center as well as programs to support the local indigenous community. RISD and UTE students had the opportunity to work closely with the Kichwa indigenous people within their community. Students learned about the indigenous perspective towards their own environment. Together they constructed a project to exhibit the Kichwa indigenous artifacts. The group also had the opportunity to thoughtfully intervene in a sensitive context through the design of this pavilion and the exhibition it contains. Students analyzed and surveyed typical indigenous artifacts and native constructions both through drawings and full-size mockups. They were asked to interpret their findings to generate their proposal. One proposal was selected to be built. Students were graded based on their sketchbooks as well as their design of and participation in the construction of the pavilion. In addition to the rainforest, this travel course explored other sites such as the Quito’s historic center and the Galapagos Island.