A pilot project with the wood workshop in Prison N. 12 of Cerro Carancho in Rivera, Uruguay
In October 2024, Campo Adentro invites us to Uruguay to develop a project with the wood workshop at Cerro Carancho prison, as part of the Festival de la Madera. We propose a collaborative system based on prototyping and furniture construction, creating a space where participants can make decisions throughout the process and propose design solutions—an “unfinished” design enriched by their knowledge and experience.
People deprived of freedom, students, and design professionals collaborate to design and build public spaces while contributing new narratives on the forestry crisis. We co-design and construct two pieces of furniture, fostering a dialogue between the inside and outside of the prison and creating experimental spaces for coexistence, co-creation, and collective reflection.
We work with eucalyptus wood profiles of 4×7 cm, helping mitigate the irresponsible consumption of wood in the country by using recycled and low-impact materials.
One of the pieces remains inside the prison, while the other is installed outside. The proposed construction system allows for design modifications throughout the process, using a structure similar to a truss, based on a modular unit that adapts to different needs.
Through this experience, COM-UNIDAD 12 envisions architecture as a tool for social inclusion, education, and environmental awareness.
