Eight Waterfalls is a temporary installation carried out within the framework of the eighth edition of the Tortosa Festival of Ephemeral Interventions “A Cel Obert”, designed by Eletres Studio, an architecture workshop based in Huancayo, Peru. This annual international event explores the insertion of temporary projects and their application as a means to enhance the architectural and cultural heritage of the city. The place chosen for the intervention is the Franquet Passage, which is the central axis that unites two blocks of houses whose construction dates back to the end of the 19th century and is considered historical heritage of the city.
Continuous space
The conceptual origin explores the theme of the festival in this edition "curiosity" which we understand as the constant need to flow through the unknown, seeking to associate this concept with a living element whose organic form achieves a mimesis with the characteristics of the place. The Franquet Passage takes the temporary form of a river whose incessant and intrepid flow crosses the central space, fed by eight waterfalls that descend along its course and join from the top.
Vertical experience
The installation aims to change the daily configuration and the unidirectional image of the road by integrating the horizontal axis and the central void. Upon entering, the visitor is surprised by the union between the great height and the extension of the passage, the new configuration of the place connects forgotten spaces such as the views from the upper floors and the characteristic architecture of the place.
Translucent materiality
The project is made up of 8 vertical elements and one longitudinal, all of them previously worked to achieve the effect of movement. The waterfalls range in size from 8 meters to a maximum height of 16 meters. A second element, 35 meters long and 3 meters in section, covers the floor in all its dimensions to transform the space into a temporary walkway. The translucent material used allows natural light to blend the installation with the textures of the place and allows light to pass into the interior of the homes.
Architectural practice
Eletres Studio is an architecture and design space based in Huancayo, Peru. The practice focuses on the design and development of experimental public facilities and small-scale, low-density residential projects. The studio has a design methodology that prioritizes concepts and experimentation with sustainable materials, affordable strategies and community participation. Led by Luis Albino and Danerix Cárdenas, the studio has generated a line of work and construction in different countries in Europe and South America, including: Spain, Portugal and Chile.
