Community Productive Development Center Las Tejedoras

Architecture for Social Impact

The Community Productive Development Center Las Tejedoras is a pioneering project located on the outskirts of Chongón, Ecuador, a town of approximately 4,900 residents. The center addresses the critical need for economic inclusion of women, particularly those outside the traditional workforce. Designed collaboratively by Natura Futura and Juan Carlos Bamba, this project harnesses architecture as a tool for community empowerment, skills development, and social integration.

A Hub for Artisan Women

Since 2009, the Young Living Foundation has been fostering community growth through education and entrepreneurship, establishing programs like the Young Living Academy for low-income children. Many of these children’s mothers participate in local artisan workshops, forming the Bromelias Artisan Women Organization, which specializes in handcrafted textiles using natural fibers. As the organization grew, the need for a dedicated space became essential.

Las Tejedoras was conceived as a productive development center, integrating learning, hands-on workshops, and a marketplace for artisan crafts. It provides a platform for women to develop technical skills, engage in creative entrepreneurship, and access local economic opportunities.

Design and Spatial Organization

The center’s layout features a central patio with endemic vegetation, framed by three longitudinal naves:

Central Nave: Artisan fabric production and exhibition space.
Side Nave 1: Theoretical classrooms, cafeteria, and hygienic facilities.
Side Nave 2: Practical workshops, sleeping areas, storage, and retail for artisan products.

The main facade functions as a productive-exhibition gallery, generating urban engagement and acting as a transitional space to the patio. The rear facade is closed to enhance privacy and security.

Materiality and Construction

Las Tejedoras embraces local construction techniques and durable materials:

Round teak wood forms the primary structural support, inspired by stilt house traditions in vulnerable regional areas.
Herringbone brick walls provide structural stability and aesthetic texture.
Wooden folding lattice doors allow natural ventilation, controlled illumination, and a strong visual connection between interior and exterior spaces.

Construction workshops actively involved community members and academy families, ensuring skill transfer, hands-on learning, and a direct connection between architecture and social development.

Empowerment Through Architecture

Las Tejedoras exemplifies how architecture can drive social transformation, serving as a productive and educational hub for women artisans in Ecuador. By combining cultural heritage, sustainable design, and community engagement, the project revitalizes local artisan techniques and empowers women through active participation and skill-building.