Modular System for the Guarani Communities

In the heart of the rainforest, the Guarani people are facing a severe housing crisis. This threatens their unique culture and community. The goal is to provide a sustainable building system for self-built homes and shared community spaces.

place San Vicente. Misiones. Argentina. ARG 009
Surface 96 mts.2 +/- 36 mts.2 Date Started:
May 1, 2022.
Phase Founding. Type Community facilities and social housing.
Target Group Indigenous. Partner OsloTre. Nordic Bim Group.
Client Asociacion Tras sus Pasos. Donor private.
Tecnology Sourcing local materials, self-building.
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1. Observe.

Why, context, challenge.

Lack of housing

Misiones, Argentina, is the country’s northeasternmost region, bordering Paraguay and Brazil. The famous Iguazu Falls run along its border. A significant portion of the population is indigenous, and the region is characterized by its lush rainforest landscape and tropical climate.
In the heart of the magnificent Argentinian rainforest, the Guarani people are facing a serious crisis. Inadequate housing and a lack of gathering spaces threaten their unique culture and community.

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This approach enables the local population to build their own homes in a simple, accessible, and sustainable way. It not only provides an economical and environmentally friendly option but also strengthens the community’s skills, independence, and cultural self-sufficiency.

The goal is to construct a prototype home in the village of Jakutinga, located deep in the rainforest. In addition, a prototype community house will be built. This building will serve as an important meeting place for the village—for craft production, social celebrations, and as a medical office for the local community. The materials are readily available, contributing to lower construction costs and reduced environmental impact.

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3. Approach.

How, strategy, interact


Architects Without Borders Norway, Oslotre, and Tras sus pasos, with support from Nordic Bim Group, have joined forces in a project to improve quality of life and contribute to a sustainable future for the Guarani people, preserving their rich cultural heritage through the development of a specially designed self-build system tailored to their needs and based on local resources and traditions.
Using an easy-to-understand building system that is simple to learn and reproduce, the houses can be built without advanced construction skills. The system has been developed based on local and readily available biological raw materials, making it sustainable and well adapted to the area’s resources.

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4. Design.

Programmering, development, co-create.

The building system is simple, easy to learn, and easy to reproduce. It is based on assembling simple wooden planks, each with a maximum length of 5 meters, allowing for efficient transportation.
Only basic tools such as a hammer, saw, and nails are required for construction—no electricity or advanced building skills are needed.
The walls are built from lightweight wooden structures filled with clay and soil. These are local materials that have been used for centuries due to their outstanding properties in keeping heat out during the summer and cold out during the winter. Clay and soil act as natural insulators, making them ideal for creating a comfortable indoor climate

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5. Implement.

Work in the field.

At AUG, we uphold the highest standards of integrity. We prevent dishonesty, corruption, and misconduct in all operations. Every donation is used responsibly to support communities, always impartially, without favoring any political party or religion.

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Project start
01/24
Visit to the area
04/24
Sketch Project delivered
09/24

Who participate

Quique Bayarri Sabariego

Quique Bayarri Sabariego

Architect - Project Achitect - quique@augnorge.org
Quique Bayarri holds a degree in architecture from the Universitat Politècnica de València, with additional studies in Delft, Madrid, and Granada. Quique has extensive and solid experience at Norwegian architectural firms, ranging from concept development to the execution phase of both residential and office buildings. He has been collaborating with Architects Without Borders Norway (AUG) since 2017 and has been a board member since 2018. He is equally dedicated to finding the best concept for a project as he is to its expression through detailed construction work. With a particular interest in sustainable architecture and construction techniques, he firmly believes that architecture must be influenced by the place where it is built and designed with a primary focus on the users. Quique uses photography as an active tool to explore architecture and the reality around us.
Paola Bornaschella

Paola Bornaschella

Architect - Design Director - paola@augnorge.org
Paola holds a master’s degree in architecture from the Faculty of Architecture, Design, and Urbanism at the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina. Paola has a solid experience in architectural design across all phases and scales—from small private buildings to large, complex projects such as masterplans, healthcare facilities, and multifunctional buildings. Paola is a founder, the current design director, and board member of AUG. She is passionate about social architecture. Guided by the belief that architecture is a powerful tool for social change, she advocates for inclusive design that fosters safety, dignity, and equal opportunity—especially in communities where it's needed most.
Melina Cauchich

Melina Cauchich

Architect - Local Architect - melina@augnorge.org
Melina Cauchich is an architect with complementary training in Fine Arts and extensive experience in planning and executing civil works, gained through more than ten years of work in architectural firms and the infrastructure department of a multinational company. Since 2016, she has been part of Architects Without Borders, playing a key role as a liaison between local communities in Argentina and the team of architects in Norway (AUG). Her work focuses on identifying needs, developing comprehensive projects, and supporting their implementation—always prioritizing collaboration and a positive social impact in favor of sustainable and inclusive architecture.

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In the heart of the rainforest, the Guaraní people are facing a severe housing crisis—one that threatens their unique culture and way of life. This project empowers local communities through hands-on training in a simple, replicable building system made from local materials like wood, earth, and clay.