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AR-AR Martínez Arquitectura y Paisaje + MEC Arquitectura + Fiallo Atelier-Water Tales
Text description provided by the architects. Through a landscape project that includes a pair of contemplation shelters, Campano Frío is an initiative to reforest and restore an area of cloud forest. Located in a rural zone of the municipality of Villamaría, Caldas, along the Cóndor Route, the site sits within the Río Claro sub basin and the Río Chinchiná basin. The property was previously used for cattle grazing and ranching, which led to the clearing of the native forest to make way for invasive pasture grasses.
To make the restoration viable, the property was divided into three reforestation zones, incorporating contemplation shelters that serve as temporary housing and an environmental education center. The process adapts to the specific characteristics of each zone, promoting ecosystem diversity.
CLOUD FOREST: In the high, western section, pioneer trees will be planted to restore soil degraded by livestock.
STREAM FOREST: On the eastern side near a creek, trees will be planted to protect the fertile soil and provide refuge for species along the watershed corridor.
BIRD FOREST: In the low lying, highly humid area featuring native forest, trees and shrubs will be planted to support both local and migratory birds.
In Andean and high Andean forests, water dynamics in both gaseous and liquid forms are essential for ecosystem life. Water, stored in tiny structures and suspended in the air, flows from plants like ferns, epiphytes, and mosses into the watersheds. These highly biodiverse ecosystems depend on canopy cover to regulate temperature, protect the soil from erosion, and create favorable microclimates for vegetation. Restoring forest cover is crucial to recovering natural dynamics and ensuring a controlled flow of water to the rivers.
The bird shelter fosters an intimate connection with the environment. From within, visitors can feel the embrace of the native forest and the soothing sound of the surrounding streams. The newly planted vegetation serves as a shelter, wrapping around the structure. Its placement ensures that the living experience becomes an extension of the ecological restoration process, allowing the architecture to blend visually and sensorially into the landscape. The constant presence of fog, the sound of water, the humidity, and the diversity of birds invite contemplation and understanding of the Andean forest's natural cycles, strengthening the bond between people and the territory.
The lookout shelter is situated at a strategic point on the mountain. It offers a privileged panoramic view of the canyon formed by the Taguambí and Río Claro rivers, whose waters descend from Los Nevados National Natural Park, shaping the landscape and feeding the region's ecosystems. This cabin reveals how ecological restoration efforts have facilitated the progressive return of vegetation cover, strengthening biodiversity, soil stability, and the ecological connectivity of the territory.