Candelabro: A Floating Cultural Platform Revitalizing Babahoyo’s River Heritage

Located in Babahoyo, Ecuador, the Candelabro Floating Cultural Platform by Natura Futura (2024) reimagines the city’s relationship with its waterways. Traditionally, cultural events and artistic activities in Babahoyo have been anchored inland, reinforcing the assumption that art and public culture belong solely on solid ground. However, the Candelabro challenges this notion by activating the river as a vibrant cultural space, recognizing its historical significance as a public realm inhabited for centuries.

Reviving a Neglected Floating Habitat

Babahoyo’s floating habitat has steadily declined, with the number of river structures shrinking from 250 to just 25 over recent decades. These traditional floating dwellings, rooted in pre-Hispanic practices, are recognized as part of Ecuador’s Intangible Cultural Heritage due to their historical value and strong cultural identity. Yet, local initiatives to preserve these habitats and protect the families living on the river have been minimal. Candelabro emerges as a mobile cultural platform, designed to revitalize both community life and riverfront engagement through an interdisciplinary collaboration of musicians, architects, graphic designers, producers, and photographers.

Innovative Floating Architecture

Measuring 4m x 4m, the platform rests on a lightweight structure of metal tubes anchored to 16 reused plastic tanks, highlighting sustainable construction practices. Side pillars combine hybrid metal and wood elements, supporting modular screens that form a textile “urban lantern.” The design incorporates an inverted truncated pyramid shape to counterbalance river winds, ensuring stability while promoting safety and accessibility. The modular system allows for quick assembly, disassembly, and transport, enabling flexible use for cultural events and community initiatives.

Cultural, Social, and Environmental Impact

The Candelabro platform exemplifies the potential of river-centered urban interventions in Latin American cities. Beyond its structural innovation, it serves as a cultural catalyst, reconnecting communities with the river, promoting sustainable cohabitation, and fostering collective artistic expression. By highlighting the interplay between urban heritage, public space, and water resources, Candelabro raises awareness about the importance of preserving both cultural identity and natural ecosystems.

This floating pavilion transforms Babahoyo’s river into a living cultural corridor, bridging history, contemporary art, and community engagement. Through this project, Natura Futura not only revitalizes a neglected habitat but also offers a replicable model for river cities seeking sustainable, inclusive, and culturally rich interventions.