Located on a northern avenue in Bogotá, surrounded by commercial and gastronomic activity, this project called Tejo Turmequé developed by Cabida Arquitectura converts a parking warehouse into a sports facility for tejo, a traditional Colombian sport. The existing structure had a low ground floor, poor daylight access, and insufficient passive ventilation. The intervention addresses these limitations by improving spatial quality and daylighting, while preserving cultural heritage and reusing the space by adapting it to current needs.
Adaptive reuse and spatial organisation
This project applies principles of conservation and adaptive reuse. Elements inherent to traditional sport tejo facilities, such as water systems, ephemeral structures, and defined privacy gradients, are reconfigured as spatial organisers. Water operates as an open system that defines the interior layout while enhancing natural daylight reflection and translucency, thereby reducing reliance on artificial lighting.
Materiality and cultural integration
The material selection merges traditional and current construction methods. Rejas, or metal grilles common in tejo venues, are redesigned with new geometric patterns to enhance security and create a distinct visual identity. These steel elements reference contemporary urban aesthetics and the work of artists such as Luz Lizarazo.
Clay-based materials are used for their thermal mass and low embodied energy, reducing environmental impact. Protective modules are built as lightweight, multipurpose pavilions that can be reconfigured or disassembled, supporting material reuse and circular construction.
Environmental strategies
The intervention improves indoor environmental quality by maximising passive design strategies for airflow and daylight. Large planters with mature trees are introduced to enhance air quality and regulate temperature through evapotranspiration. Reusing the existing concrete structure instead of building new reduces embodied carbon.
This project shows how adapting obsolete urban structures can support community activities and extend building lifespans. By combining passive environmental strategies with materials that reference local culture, the intervention sustains traditional tejo within a contemporary urban context, prioritising resource efficiency and flexible spatial use.
