Homes, public spaces, water and sanitation and other infrastructures for poor areas are often designed without any participation from the future users. As many studies assert, this could be the main reason why so often infrastructure collapses, spaces become derelict and houses are abandoned. Women and children are affected the worst by these kind of failures, as they are the ones who need these investments the most. 

 

When professionals do engage with the users, relationships become political and complex, making the process a rich learning experience for all.

 

All my work is focused on developing design and implementation strategies based on parcitipatory processes, giving attention to differentiated needs and stakes of men, women and children, as well as enabling self-sustainability of the outcomes.