Hurricane Resistant House - Competition Studio UPR ARC4133

Fourth year students (Christian Gonzalez & Gabriel Rivera) of the Competition Studio got involved in a contest concerning building affordable hurricane resistant houses for the community of Barrio Obrero in Santurce. Students partnered with mentors Rafael Vargas and Francisco J. Rodriguez along with a team of registered engineers and surveyors. Team members proposed an entry that won second place in a competition organized by the Board of Architects and Landscape Architects of Puerto Rico and the Board of Engineers and Surveyors of Puerto Rico.

This competition sought to produce a design that meets the needs of every citizen right to a safe roof, after the passage of Hurricane Maria, and recognizes the real economic limitations that do not allow people to finance the design and proper construction of their home. The project proposed to incorporate available technology, current codes, and be accessible in terms of cost and support landscape protection and environmental considerations.