Esperanza
Creating outdoor amenities for a migrant farmworkers’ village
Pomegranate Center, in partnership with the Housing Authority of Grant County in eastern Washington, created an outdoor gathering area for migrant farmworkers living in the Esperanza Housing Project. This experimental housing project, made from reconditioned shipping containers, provides seasonal shelter for approximately 200 adults and 40 children. Eastern Washington temperatures regularly reach 110° in the summer and the residents are subjected to 50 mph winds on a regular basis.
We designed a shelter for outdoor gatherings, cooking areas and a play area. Working with University of Washington’s Design Build program, headed by Sergio Palleroni and David Rice, we built straw bale walls to act as benches, wind buffers and walls delineating the new amenities.
- Year:
- 1999-2000
- Location:
- Mattawa, Washington
- Owner:
- Housing Authority of Grant County
- Partner:
- University of Washington
- Lead Designer:
- Milenko Matanovic
- Architect:
- Bob Baldino
- Wood Artist:
- Chiaki Takanohara
- Murals:
- Heidi Breeze-Harris
- Volunteer Coordinator:
- Darcy Batura
- Volunteer Hours:
- 1,800
