by São Paulo, Civic + CulturalVagalume

Vagalume
Brazil

Type 1&2: 1,970 sf / 183 sq m
Type 3: 3,089 sf / 287 sq m

The educational, non-governmental organization, ‘Vagalume’, has been working for 10 years to create a network of 290 communities located along the rivers of the Amazon basin. Their mission is to cultivate literacy increasing academic performance among local children, while creating a bridge to the “outer world” and promoting community awareness. To elevate its work within these communities, Vagalume called for the development of a library to ignite deeper social engagement and organization. The project uses the initial book shelf module distributed by Vagalume to build flexible library structures. These modules can be easily transported or locally built and are symbolic of the community’s learning process. Built with local technology, the library is constructed with flexible modules, natural ventilation and includes maintainable “sustainability kits”. Community woodshops, organized to build the new structures, aim to organize the residents to produce and commercialize goods, guaranteeing economic stability.