Natura Futura Arquitectura has successfully completed an ambitious restoration project that brings new life to a historic floating community along Ecuador's Babahoyo River. Working closely with local residents and re:arc Practice Lab, the architectural firm has rehabilitated seven existing floating houses while preserving the traditional riverine lifestyle that has defined this unique neighborhood for generations.
The Floating Neighborhood of Las Balsas, which translates to "the rafts," represents a remarkable example of community resilience and architectural innovation. Located along the Babahoyo River, this historic settlement once supported more than 250 floating houses, creating a vibrant waterfront community that maintained deep connections to river commerce and traditional ways of life. However, dramatic changes over the past two centuries significantly reduced the community's size and threatened its survival.
By 2010, the majority of families had been relocated to public housing developments located further inland, effectively severing their historic ties to the river that had sustained their livelihoods and cultural practices for generations. This relocation left only a small number of dwellings still floating on the water, many of which had deteriorated into fragile condition due to lack of maintenance and resources.
Natura Futura approached this challenging situation as an opportunity to restore the vital relationship between people and water through architecture that draws directly from local knowledge and traditional building practices. Their comprehensive proposal introduces both shared public spaces and private accommodations designed specifically for long-term inhabitants, with the entire project structured around the recovery and reinforcement of traditional timber building techniques that have proven effective in this unique environment.
The restoration project focuses on creating a floating ecosystem where housing, work opportunities, and community life can maintain direct connections to the river while providing modern amenities and safety features. At the core of the innovative system are floating platforms and replicable wooden truss modules that can expand or contract according to each resident's specific needs and changing circumstances.
The construction utilizes lightweight metal components, recycled flotation tanks, and locally sourced wood to create structures specifically engineered to withstand the intense winter seasons that bring dramatic changes in water levels and weather conditions. The project includes floodable walkways, dry toilet facilities, and advanced filtration systems that provide clean water access and maintain stable circulation paths even when conventional infrastructure would fail.
The entire project emerged through an extensive participatory process that relied heavily on the community's deep understanding of the river's seasonal movements and the specific requirements of floating life. Local residents' input directly shaped critical material decisions, spatial configurations, and construction methods, ensuring that the final proposal maintains a strong relationship with the unique characteristics of this riverside location.
The collaborative approach also carefully addressed daily practices essential to the community, including fishing activities and recycling programs, while paying special attention to accessibility concerns for a disabled resident. The comprehensive design includes seven mobile access points, 150 meters of floodable walkways, and a central public platform that brings together individual homes, local commerce opportunities, and communal gathering areas.
Environmental sustainability plays a crucial role in the project's design, with the dry toilet and filtration systems preventing hundreds of cubic meters of wastewater from entering the river each year. This significant reduction in pollution loads helps improve the overall health of the river ecosystem while supporting the community's long-term viability.
The urban planning strategies extend beyond the floating structures to include the rehabilitation of 750 square meters of riverbank area, which has been carefully planted with native species including Pechiche and Matapalo trees. These indigenous species are specifically chosen for their ability to withstand prolonged flooding periods while helping control soil erosion, actively supporting the regeneration of a riparian ecosystem that has faced pressure for decades.
The vegetative restoration efforts advance the recovery of important plant species while stabilizing slopes along the water's edge, creating a more resilient natural environment that supports both human habitation and wildlife. A carefully developed management model ensures that families retain their property and usage rights while the municipal government provides ongoing technical support to maintain the shared infrastructure components.
This innovative approach supplements the architectural work with a governance structure specifically oriented toward long-term continuity and resilience, effectively reinforcing the floating neighborhood as an evolving civic landscape that can adapt to changing conditions while preserving its essential character and cultural significance for future generations.
