Estudio Cavernas

Qui sommes-nous

Estudio Cavernas is a social architecture non-profit organization committed to achieving sustainable construction in marginalized communities through the development of environmental and well-adapted architecture.
Our goal is to ensure a process and outcome that reflects and supports the local culture, way of living and environment.

The project aims to combine the process of building with the training of migrant workers to gain the necessary skills for working in construction. While we work along with our team in the construction of our projects, the training process occurs in a natural and progressive way.

Our work
Since 2015, Estudio Cavernas has worked in Mae Sot, Thailand, a border area that hosts a large population of immigrants and refugees facing precarious migration experiences, including habitation challenges, lack of infrastructures as well as quality housing.
The solutions that we offer are sustainable and environmentally friendly, meaning that our projects have a reduced carbon footprint and low energy requirements since we apply the principles of bioclimatic architecture. By taking on this approach, we try to achieve interior comfort through natural ventilation, sun exposure control, humidity regulation and adequate lighting - all while using natural materials.
Other environmental strategies include working with the building's surroundings. In collaboration with community members, we plant trees, vegetable gardens and all kinds of vegetation that will help regulate the temperature and humidity inside the building, subsequently increasing the interior comfort for dwellers.
Our team is composed of migrants and individuals impacted by social exclusion without previous experience in construction.
Estudio Cavernas works closely with marginalized communities by providing training on basic building principles in theory and application.
By instilling a sense of purpose and confidence, the individuals we work with are able to in turn give back to their own communities in a way that promotes long-term, sustainable change through future infrastructure development.
We encourage our workers to become independent and self-sufficient, so they can provide for themselves and their families.
To do so, we combine the process of building with the training of the workers. We ensure a working environment exists in which the learning process occurs in a natural and progressive way, and that is adapted to the needs and abilities of every individual worker.

Projects
• Architecture Green Island: In partnership with our friends at PlayOnside, our team has been awarded a grant to build, 'The Green Island', a project consisting of a community centre, football field and playground for the migrant people of the garbage dump community in Mae Sot; Min Tu Won School: The Mae Ku Learning Center is a new educational building located near the Thai-Burma border. The building is designed as a mountainous, monolithic object nestled in amidst the adjacent fields; etc
• Product Design: Apart from architecture, the organization is carrying out technical training programs for young migrants through Product Design and other interventions. The way in which we carry out these programs gives the trainees a chance to see many different aspects of the construction and design process by getting real, hands-on experience in specific areas such as masonry, wood and metal work.

Juan Cuevas Duran is a Founder and the Design Director of Estudio Cavernas.

For other net participants we can offer an expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work.