Artículos y publicaciones

Enero 2015. Artículo: El proceso de apropiación de la vivienda en la mejora de la calidad del hábitat. Estudios de caso en Lima y Bogotá. Revista: Investigaciones en Ciudad y Arquitectura, Volumen 5 Nº 2, INIFAUA (Instituto de Investigación, Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Artes, Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería), Lima, Perú.[ISSN: 2074-6989]

Noviembre 2012. Artículo: Proceso participativo de construcción sismo-resistente en Perú, en: Barros, L. Pablo, Álvarez, Luis, Imhoff, Felipe (2012). TERRA. Desde la tradición hasta la innovación tecnológica en sistemas constructivos a base de tierra cruda. Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Valparaiso, Chile.

Julio 2012. Co-autora del artículo: El ecodiseño de viviendas, clave para garantizar el desarrollo sostenible y una adecuada calidad de vida en Perú, XVI Congreso Internacional de Ingeniería de Proyectos, 2012 Valencia, pp 0452-0463.

http://aeipro.com/files/congresos/2012valencia/CIIP12_0452_0463.3728.pdf

Octubre de 2011. Artículo de investigación: Una experiencia sustentable y participativa de reconstrucción, en: Revista ARCUS, Arquitectura, Construcción y Urbanismo Sostenible. Facultad de Arte y Diseño, Programa de Arquitectura. IUCMC. Año1, Nº 1, Popayán, Octubre de 2011. Institución Universitaria Colegio Mayor del Cauca, Popayán (Colombia). [ISSN: 2256-1390]

http://issuu.com/colmayorcauca/docs/arcus_revista

Noviembre de 2009. Artículo: Arquitectura Sostenible, en la Revista ESCALA, Arquitectura Latinoamericana. Bogotá, Número 216, Foro Arquitectura y Ciudad Sostenible. [ISSN: 978-603-45417-0-2]
https://mbasic.facebook.com/revistaescala/albums/226167603652/?refid=13&fbt_id=226167603652&lul&_rdr#s_9e90d1c0292d934d94cc03188c44d74a

Abril de 2009. Artículo: Arquitectura Solidaria, publicado en la Revista ARQUITECTOS de Madrid del Colegio Oficial de Arquitectos de Madrid, Nº 05. [ISSN: 1888-2331]

Marzo de 2009. Entrevista en la revista INTERACT, the Magazine of Progressio.[ISSN: 1816-045X]

Link: interact_09_1_spring_0.pdf

Diciembre de 2008. Diseño y redacción de la Publicación: Ica. Una experiencia de reconstrucción. Contexto, sistematización y manual de construcción del Proyecto: Apoyo a la auto-construcción de 16 viviendas en quincha mejorada modular para damnificados del terremoto del 15 de agosto de 2007 en Ica, Perú. Edición: Diciembre de 2008, Impresión SINCO Editores. [ISSN: 978-603-45417-0-2]

Noviembre de 2008. Artículo en la publicación editada por la organización de la XVI Bienal Panamericana de Arquitectura de Quito en calidad de ganadora del primer premio en la Categoría “Concurso Mundial. Hábitat Social y Desarrollo”. [ISBN: 978-9978-369-07-4]

Mayo de 2008. Artículo: The Ica Earthquake, en el periódico inglés The Universe.

Eight months after a massive earthquake hit Peru, Progressio development worker Maria Eugenia Lacarra discovers a reconstruction effort in tatters. 

Just over eight months ago, at a quarter to seven in the evening, Peru’s Ica region was hit by a massive earthquake. Measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale, it lasted almost four minutes. The worst affected areas were the provinces of Pisco, Chincha and the city of Ica itself. According to reports by Peru’s National Civil Defence Institute, 550 people lost their lives and more than 400,000 people were affected. Today, eight months after the disaster, the damage - physical and psychological – is palpable. The reconstruction effort has been almost non-existent and has resulted in an acute lack of confidence in the democratic system, which was already losing credibility.

Marlene, a widow with four children, came to the Ica region from the highlands of the sierra in search of a better future for herself and her family. The earthquake took them by surprise while they were building their house and now they live in a shack in the middle of the desert. Her humble expression and resignation to a hopeless life remind us of how important it is that we do not forget these people, they need us.

So what went wrong? The lack of warning, technical resources and cooperation between the various agents of civil society and the state have exposed the Peruvian government’s inability to respond to a catastrophe of this scale. The initial emergency response was a disaster – not only was it poorly coordinated, but distribution of aid was haphazard. Most was directed to the capital, Lima, but the rural population, who are the poorest and therefore most vulnerable, received little help. Grassroots organisations and charities, which bore witness to the state’s lack of action, took control. They rationed the large quantities of aid that arrived from all over the world and made efforts to reach out to all of the affected. Even now, many families are living out in the open air or in extremely precarious conditions; in temporary homes made of matting and plastic, which offer little protection from cold nights and stifling heat during the day.

Following last year’s earthquake, these victims were promised a grant of 6,000 soles (approximately 1,800 US dollars) in the form of construction materials. But it is only now – eight months later - that a lucky few are receiving anything. The delay was caused by a lack of planning on the part of government ministers. While they were quick to promise grants, they seemed to forget that unending administrative obstacles would place an added burden on the earthquake stricken population. Instead of reconstruction, time has been lost as people have sought to obtain the deeds to their property and land – without which the government aid could not be administered. When people finally get hold of the money, it quickly becomes clear that it is scarcely enough to build 15m2 of an earthquake-proof house; the cost of materials and labour has increased by 300% in recent months. With international assistance, charities are implementing a number of other development projects and in many areas they are now the only bodies carrying out reconstruction - and the state has happily delegated this responsibility to them. 

This is the same Peru that is championed as an example of macroeconomic growth around the world. And though this is a country with considerable cultural and ecological diversity, on a national level, Peru still faces huge challenges on many fronts. Not only is the gap between rich and poor growing, the country is suffering the gradual loss of its natural resources as they are looted by multinational companies. Meanwhile, the majority of the population is excluded from this supposed economic development; ‘improved’ poverty rates are doctored – though the real figures remain the same - and the aftermath of the earthquake, which left thousands of poor people poorer still, has simply made things worse.

Carmen, who works in communications, lives with her three-year old daughter and her elderly mother in a hut made of wood and plastic. They too are still waiting to receive their grant so they can finally start rebuilding their house. Carmen works for a local charity, helping many others who, like her, have lost everything. Those of us around her are still surprised by the smile with which she greets us every morning, and her will to live, to progress, and to see justice in a Peru that belongs to everyone; a Peru that needs to show its fighting spirit and solidarity. Unfortunately, this is a face of the country that few people believe still exists.