Estudio Relativo
Members: Estudio Relativo, Hecho en Maipú, Centro Cultural y Social El Birri, El Surco del Oeste, Espacio Santafesino
Year of creation: 2016
Location: Barrio San Lorenzo, City of Santa Fe
Contact: [email protected]
Description, Concept, Objectives
The CIEMPIÉS PROJECT is a collaborative self-construction initiative aimed at providing cultural collectives and spaces with a mobile equipment system for occupying public space. It proposes the use of MECANOTUBO scaffolding systems, combined—through simple, accessible manufacturing processes—with phenolic multilayer panels and pine wood boards.
CIEMPIÉS PROJECT is based on the transfer and exchange of knowledge as an anti-device for civic empowerment. It is conceived as an open-source proposal that invites participating groups to learn the proposed technology and reinterpret it according to the specific characteristics of their context.
Activities
The anti-device was designed to expand the activities of the cultural and social center El Birri beyond the walls of the former Mitre train station, and to share its cultural productions with the San Lorenzo neighborhood. It has served, among other purposes, as a display mechanism for the Carnaval School exhibitions, showcasing creations from workshops in costume design, magic, sculpture, ceramics, mask-making, literature, film, photography, juggling, and other circus arts.
It also functioned as mobile equipment for occupying and activating public space during various neighborhood events organized by the Carnaval School in collaboration with the San Lorenzo community. Additionally, it represented the cultural center at events such as the graduation ceremony of School No. 570 “Gral. Pascual Echagüe,” being moved through the streets by volunteers.
The anti-device arrived at a pivotal moment for El Birri, as the collective was reflecting on its real connections to the territory it inhabits. After strengthening its infrastructure and overcoming eviction attempts by local authorities, the assembly-based body of the center aimed to build alliances with neighborhood organizations and create reciprocal relationships with local leaders.
In this context, the anti-device acted as a catalyst for mutual identification, subverting traditional frameworks of engagement and generating a “space for” before defining the “what for.” Possibility emerged as a condition preceding necessity.
Difficulties
One of the main challenges of this type of initiative is related to the availability of material resources. In this case, the project was supported by Espacio Santafesino, a program designed to promote local cultural production with social impact. This funding covered approximately 70% of project costs; the remaining 30% was provided by the cultural center and participating collectives.
The project included knowledge-sharing and participatory construction workshops involving community leaders and collectives from El Birri. However, disparities in tool-use experience among participants created challenges. To address this, training sessions were held to prevent accidents and ensure the success of the building process.