Architects Without Borders Norway
PILAGÁ CRAFT HOUSE
Team: Paola Bornaschella, Melina Cauchich, Quique Bayarri, Alfonso Rengifo
Year of Creation: 2024 – Present
Location: Pozo del Tigre, Formosa, Argentina
Contact: [email protected]
Web: https://augnorge.org
Description, concept, objectives
Pilagá women are dedicated to traditional basket weaving using leaves of the carandillo, a shrub-like palm that grows in the foothills. Harvesting the raw material is dangerous, as the forests are home to reptiles and wild cats. Every piece is entirely handwoven with carandillo using ancestral techniques. The most skilled artisans teach younger women the craft and pass on their cultural knowledge. Today, there are around 2,600 artisans across the Gran Chaco region.
Gender inequality and limited economic opportunities persist in Indigenous communities. During harvest and fishing seasons, men often leave for extended periods, and women artisans become the sole caregivers and providers for their families. Their craft is frequently the only source of income.
Our approach has been to support these women in achieving economic independence and preserving their Indigenous heritage by providing a community center for the production, storage, and sale of their crafts. The Craft House offers a central and accessible location for their work. This building enables the local Indigenous community to pass down their treasured knowledge. Supporting women’s economic empowerment not only fosters equality but also makes them key partners in productive, social, and environmental development. Strengthening women’s networks also constitutes one of the most effective territorial strategies to prevent gender-based violence.
Activities Undertaken
An architect and local sociologist from AUG traveled to Formosa and spent four days living with community members to study their needs and co-design a spatial program.
The project emerged from collaboration with sociologists and anthropologists, including Walter Bosisio, and centers on women’s rights, Indigenous heritage, and intercultural exchange.
Crucially, it was made possible thanks to the efforts of the GRAN CHACO Foundation, which facilitated communication and resource management from Norway to the construction phase.
Difficulties
Several challenges were encountered:
Communication and oversight: The inclusion of the GRAN CHACO Foundation and its local architect was essential for closely monitoring construction. The building follows a strict 975 mm structural grid, based on the standard dimensions of locally produced bricks. Working with a grid offers architectural and construction advantages—standardization and repetition create a clear, coherent language that simplifies design, execution, and cost control. Reducing detailing minimizes errors and speeds up construction.
Limited access to future maintenance resources: This was addressed by using only bricks produced by the local cooperative. The well-defined grid forms the foundation of a robust, honest architecture where structure and materials are left exposed, showcasing their function and eliminating the need for future maintenance.
Environmental impact: The bricks are made by the community itself, promoting local economic participation and the use of native resources. Clay is extracted and fired onsite.
Energy control and lack of technological infrastructure: The project prioritized bioclimatic design for energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact. All walls are built with solid bricks to improve thermal inertia, and ventilation is enhanced through the introduction of patios and openings in multiple directions.
Future Challenges
The GRAN CHACO Foundation, which supports social and community initiatives in Indigenous communities, ensures the center is used meaningfully.
Thanks to this project, the center is now a stop for tourists and visitors traveling through the region—a recognition by the local municipality in response to the results and participation of various organizations. Strong bonds have formed, with profoundly positive effects on the community.
Today, around 30 Pilagá artisans use the facility actively. 20 Wichí artisans also use the space. Twice a week, a bus brings tourists and travelers from Formosa capital to Paraguay. The two available beds are used to host artisans who need to attend training and come from distant areas.
