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GAB 1.0 _ GRANJA TRAPICHITO
Alejandro Rodriguez and his family have just recently gained full ownership of their farm, Granja Trapichito, in Barrigon, a village in the Cocle region roughly 30 minutes northwest of Penonome. As a subsistence farmer, Alejandro grows only enough for family consumption and small scale village exchange. This lack of surplus not only prevents him from generating any revenue, but also makes grain storage to supplement poor harvests almost impossible. Farms like Granja Trapichito thus lead stressful cyclical existences with almost no possibility for improvement.
The Rodriguez Farm is part of a larger piece of land acquired by PATRONATO, a nonprofit land grant organization working with local subsistence farmers to develop sustainable agricultural methods and viable revenue generation methods. Many farmers have expressed interest in agricultural tourism, and some have even begun building visitor cabins on their properties. Alejandro has set aside a piece of his own land for the construction of cabins as well, but lacks funding, design, and construction ability. The Pilot Project of Global Architecture Brigades will be to provide all three of these. Global Business Brigades Carnegie Mellon is working with Alejandro to cultivate the logistical aspects of the project, including visitor experience, advertising, community involvement, and future expansion.
The cabins will be built using vernacular construction methods, and will use widely available local renewable resources. As they will lack electricity and running water, they will use passive methods to provide cooling, ventilation, cooking, cleaning, and waste disposal. Construction will be carried out not only by GAB, but also by the Rodriguez family and community volunteers. Community participation is critical to the success of the project, as it will greatly reduce construction costs, increase personal pride and investment in the project’s success, and allow for the education of other farmers in construction methods and business models for the development of their own projects. Construction assistance could be provided in exchange for the design and construction of cabins on their own properties.
The project is to be carried out in two stages, one of observation and assistance, the other of design and construction. Accordingly, our January 2009 will allow us to survey they site, conduct interviews with the Rodriguez family and other farmers, study and participate in vernacular building methods, and listen to and propose ideas for the design of agritourism eco-cabins. Upon our return to the US, we will develop a cabin prototype to be built on our second trip in June 2009.
Alejandro Rodriguez and his family have just recently gained full ownership of their farm, Granja Trapichito, in Barrigon, a village in the Cocle region roughly 30 minutes northwest of Penonome. As a subsistence farmer, Alejandro grows only enough for family consumption and small scale village exchange. This lack of surplus not only prevents him from generating any revenue, but also makes grain storage to supplement poor harvests almost impossible. Farms like Granja Trapichito thus lead stressful cyclical existences with almost no possibility for improvement.
The Rodriguez Farm is part of a larger piece of land acquired by PATRONATO, a nonprofit land grant organization working with local subsistence farmers to develop sustainable agricultural methods and viable revenue generation methods. Many farmers have expressed interest in agricultural tourism, and some have even begun building visitor cabins on their properties. Alejandro has set aside a piece of his own land for the construction of cabins as well, but lacks funding, design, and construction ability. The Pilot Project of Global Architecture Brigades will be to provide all three of these. Global Business Brigades Carnegie Mellon is working with Alejandro to cultivate the logistical aspects of the project, including visitor experience, advertising, community involvement, and future expansion.
The cabins will be built using vernacular construction methods, and will use widely available local renewable resources. As they will lack electricity and running water, they will use passive methods to provide cooling, ventilation, cooking, cleaning, and waste disposal. Construction will be carried out not only by GAB, but also by the Rodriguez family and community volunteers. Community participation is critical to the success of the project, as it will greatly reduce construction costs, increase personal pride and investment in the project’s success, and allow for the education of other farmers in construction methods and business models for the development of their own projects. Construction assistance could be provided in exchange for the design and construction of cabins on their own properties.
The project is to be carried out in two stages, one of observation and assistance, the other of design and construction. Accordingly, our January 2009 will allow us to survey they site, conduct interviews with the Rodriguez family and other farmers, study and participate in vernacular building methods, and listen to and propose ideas for the design of agritourism eco-cabins. Upon our return to the 
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