recycled materials transform abandoned triangular lot in colombia into colorful urban space
Participatory Design revives Community Park in Neiva
Community Park Veinte de Mayo, designed by Taller Ciudad Portátil, is located in the Veinte de Mayo neighborhood in Neiva, Colombia. The project occupies a 94 sqm triangular plot that had previously been abandoned and associated with insecurity and neglect. Through a process of participatory design and collective construction, the site was transformed into a compact public space that addresses the neighborhood’s limited access to communal areas, with less than 4% coverage, while fostering social interaction and environmental resilience.
The park’s geometry defines its spatial and organizational logic. The triangular form guided the distribution of hard and green surfaces, urban furniture, and structural elements such as columns and a pergola. The resulting composition balances 50% permeable green surfaces with 50% hardscape, integrating planters with native, low-water-consumption vegetation. With limited financial resources, construction was achieved through community self-management. More than fifteen local families participated in collective building sessions, contributing labor, materials, and time. The use of recycled and donated elements shaped both the structure and its identity. This process not only enabled construction within budget constraints but also reinforced community ownership of the space.
all images courtesy of Taller Ciudad Portátil
Urban Regeneration utilizes Low-Impact Construction
Material selection reflects a circular and low-impact approach. Concrete with recycled aggregates, reclaimed pine wood, and metal profiles were used for structure and furnishings. Autonomous solar lighting was installed to ensure energy efficiency and nighttime usability. The pergola, elevated to 2.6 meters and designed with segmented elements, enhances shade and ventilation, improving thermal comfort under Neiva’s warm climate. Ten cubic volumes emerge from the ground plane, five serving as structural supports and five functioning as urban furniture, including benches and chess tables. Architects at Taller Ciudad Portátil utilized color as a unifying element throughout the project. A collectively chosen palette of reds, yellows, whites, and blacks was applied to floors, columns, and a community mural, reinforcing neighborhood identity and visual coherence.
Beyond its physical construction, the project demonstrates the capacity of participatory architecture to improve urban and social conditions simultaneously. The park increased public space availability, introduced vegetation that enhances microclimate conditions, and reactivated community engagement. Within its small footprint, Community Park Veinte de Mayo illustrates how collaborative design and circular construction methods can generate lasting social, spatial, and environmental value.
Community Park Veinte de Mayo occupies a 94-square-meter triangular plot in Neiva, Colombia
the project was designed by Taller Ciudad Portátil through a participatory and collaborative process
the site, once abandoned and unsafe, has been transformed into a public gathering space
the triangular geometry defines the organization of surfaces, structures, and circulation
more than fifteen families contributed labor, materials, and time to the park’s construction
hard and green areas are distributed in equal measure, balancing permeability and usability
recycled and donated materials formed the foundation of the park’s structure and identity
concrete with recycled aggregates was used for the primary surfaces and structural base
some cubes incorporate built-in chess tables for informal recreation and social interaction
project info:
name: Community Park Veinte de Mayo
designer: Taller Ciudad Portátil | @tallerciudadportatil
location: Neiva, Colombia
promoter: Municipality of Neiva (Mayor Germán Casagua Bonilla) + Secretariat of Housing and Habitat of Neiva + Community of the Veinte de Mayo Neighborhood
project management and supervision: Arch. Marwin Victoria + Arch. Julián Losada
construction team: Camilo Sierra, Camilo Castro, María Del Mar Echeverry, Yenni Paola Cabrera, María Angelica Vega, Luisa Fernanda Solano, Christian Sánchez, Julián Castrillón, Jessica Natalia Medina, Juan Sebastián Daniels, Eliana Cardozo Chaux, Tania Vásquez, Anny Johanna Vargas, Roberto Escobar, Valeria Montenegro, Paula Moopan, Víctor Quintero, Daniel Losada, José Reinel López, Jorge Reyes, Luis Fernando Carvajal, Laura Daniela Azuero
community management: Luz Bei Benítez
allied partners: Taller Ciudad Portátil, Constructora León Aguilera, Constructora Cosmos, RM Ingeniería Integral, Eng. Carlos Rojas, Eng. William Giraldo, Eng. Miguel Puentes, Eng. William Tamayo, Eng. Carlos Moreno, Councilman Miller Osorio, Industrias Carvicam, Vinaki Arquitectos, Con.Kreta, BM Topografía, Disso Arquitectos, Puro Arte
video: Harvey Valenzuela + Marwin Victoria
designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.
edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom
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