
What makes a building architecture? The eternal debate over what distinguishes architecture from mere utilitarian construction has often included affordable and social housing as an influential topic, sparking different points of view. This question is particularly significant in the Latin American context, where unique conditions go beyond cost concerns, whether imposed or unavoidable. Limited access to financing, the prevalence of self-construction, and the spread of informal settlements are interconnected factors shaping the built environment. These dynamics foster an aesthetic that, for some, challenges notions of good architecture, manifesting in urban landscapes where exposed materials become a defining feature.
In contemporary discourse, multiple perspectives often lead to the fetishization of architecture, reducing it to an object of admiration focused on form, finishes, or the scale of monetary investment. This perspective overlooks deeper aspects of design, such as functionality, social context, and the human needs that architecture aims to address. Instead, it prioritizes superficial considerations, diminishing architecture's potential for positive impact. For example, when considering a home, exposed materials like concrete blocks, partitions, or untreated wood are often overlooked and seen as incapable of conveying aesthetic value compared to more refined materials like rectified natural stones or exotic woods. However, through daily interaction, materials reveal their broader significance, becoming transcendent elements that inspire and engage the user's experience—and, why not, memories.
