REDEVELOPMENT OF "LA PERLA"
SAN JUAN ANTIGUA,
PUERTO RICO
Submitted as partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree
of Master in Architecture at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
October
7, 1961
Mehmet Doruk Pamir, B. Arch.,
Middle East'Technical University,
Ankara, Turkey.
1960.
Lawrence B. Anderson, Head
Department of Architecture
Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Drawingsnever submitted. i. e.. no
originals deposited with Department
therefore no reproductions available.
Arahitecture Headquarters has been
trying to extract than from Mr. Pamir
since 1962 without success.
October
7, 1961
Pietro Belluschi, Dean
School of Architecture and Planning
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge 39, Massachusetts
Dear Dean Belluschi:
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Master in Architecture, I hereby submit this Thesis entitled,
"Redevelopment of 'I.a Perla t, SanJuan,
Puerto Rice."
I am, Sir, respectfully
Mebmet Doruk Pamir
MDP:ed
yours,
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
I woul.d like to express my gratitude to the members of the faculty
who have given their counsel towards the pursuit of this project,
and to Mr. Manuel Seaone, Director of the local Planning Connnission
of San Juan, Mr. Salvador Lugo, Economic Adviser to the Local
Planning Commission of San Juan, Mr. H. J. Espinoso, Senior Planner
of the Planning Board of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and Major
A. L. Dorsey, USMC, Commander, Air Dispatch, Caribbean Sea Front Command, who have also contributed toward this Thesis by their assistance and cooperation.
The above, together with the most valuable constructive criticisms
of the members of the Graduate Class of 1960-61, have made this
project possible.
ABSTRACT
The subject-matter of this study is a preliminary re-development
proposal for La Perla, a blighted community in San Juan Antigua,
Puerto Rico.
The justification
of the proposal
The first one concerns Ekistics,
of land-use within a city.
is based upon two theories.
and is primarily
a suggestion
The second is basically a social sense, dealing with the adaption
of slum societies to urban environment.
The proposed design can be outlined as an architectural pattern
for a transition area, where slum societies are introduced and
helped to perceive urban concepts along with its sophistication
and scale.
The first portion of the report explains the general attitude of the
author towards re-development as a phenomenon, followed by a series
of observations with statistical data in the programme discussion.
The two above-mentioned theories are proposed.
Consequently, the
programme is outlined and with the setting of design criteria the
report is concluded.
5.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page
1.
Letter to Dean Belluschi
2.
Acknowledgements
3.
Abstract
4.
Table of Contents
5.
Table of Plates
6.
Exordium
7·
Observations
1.
2.
3.
Area and Space
People and Economy
Climate
Statistical
1.
2.
11.
Information
on La Perla
People and Economy
Climatological Data
Discussion
for the Programme
11.
14'.
18.
21.
21.
25.
30.
The Programine
39·
Design Considerations
41.
Bibliography
44.
6.
TABLE OF PIATES
Plate I.
Plate II.
Page
10.
12.
EXORDIUM
" •••••••••• the ange 1 with a sword,
evicting us from the smaller, friendless
world in which we once moved vlith confidenee , born of familiarity, and plunging
us into a bigger, alien world where our
unaccustomed sensibilities are forced to
cope with a formidable new scale of
even t s.... ,,1 •
Gyorgy Kepes
Unfortunately,
settlement
redevelopments
or so to say, as the "bull-dozer
image regardless
Designers
of whether
treatment,"
found it easier to turn completely
technical
experiences
hand there exist societies
technical
1.
perfection
perfection,
in mechanical
alone satisfy
The answer is absolutely
societies
that already have adapted
to receive the utmost in satisfaction
and functional
every friendly
facts of technical
which resulted
settlement?"
True, there are today certain
themselves
towards
The question is, "does functional
the d"t.;ellersof a redeveloped
not.
destroying
it was "good" or "bad".
value, based purely upon functionalism,
successes.
often appear as that angel,
and happiness
and sequences,
for whom happiness
but on the other
lies somewhere
and it is these societies
KEPES, Gyorgy, The Visual Arts, Today, p. 7.
from
before
which demand certain
8.
familiar images that they can cling to during the process
innovations.
of their
orientation
towards functional
For such groups the
predominant
factor that determines
environment
should be derived from the fonner life, that is to say,
the fonn of the 'redeveloped'
a design approach which has been filtered through the previous
pattern of living.
construction,
This by all means does not imply a literary
but definitely
means the recapture
of positive
re-
quali-
ties of a settlement.
The answer to this, for the designer,
tinuous observation.
can only result from con-
Without exception
matter how handicapped
every human settlement,
it may be socially or physically,
some posi tive and sound features.
The importance
these may differ from a circulation
no
reflects
and the scale of
system to a ',traditional procedure
of serving coffee.
The most important
evaluation
criteria
The negative
of sanitation,
task of the observer
objective
of these features.
facts usually
insufficient
imply physical
served within the structure
deteriorations
- poverty,
complexes.
lack
In addition,
can sometimes
of the society, possibly
of obscene habits or depressive
to establish
drawbacks
space, et hoc genus omne.
certain social or psychological
necessary
is to establish
be ob-
in the forms
In such cases, it is
systems of design that are strictly derived
from the observed and not on preconceived
prototype
solutions.
9·
Any result will then become an integral
cular society.
A redevelopment,
expression
with technical
of that parti-
corrections,
must
at the same time introduce new but related concepts and expressions,
that is, functional
and physical
novations
and f'orma.Lvalues which will inject emotional
vi tali ty to the settlement.
must be the inductive
Again, the proposed
result of direct observations.
Of course, there are limits to the remedies that an architect
a planner
can provide
for the most complex human organization,
society", but it is also an inevitable
As an architect,
lishing both social and psychological
contribute
or
"the
fact that the great responsi-
bility in creating the texture of collective
domain of architecture.
in-
living lies within the
I believe
patterns,
that, in estab-
it is possible
to an immense degree, if not to completely
answer.
to
PrATE I.
rA PERIA'S
roGATION IN SAN JUAN ANTIGUA
11.
THEOBSERVATIONS
"v]e must a.lways say what we see, but
above all and more difficult,
we must
always see what we see." 2.
Ie Corbusier
1.
Area as Formand Space:
La Perla is located at the north of the District
of San Juan Antigua,
Puerto Rico, between the old city wall and the Atlantic Ocean, consisting
of a linear texture of slum housing, erected on a steep rocky
slope. It reflects
defensive attitude
a strong unity that to a certain degree bears a
towards the surrounding world.
This distinct
unity
is reinforced by the massive and powerful city wall which actually
determines the boundary for the southern side, creating a crisp separation between La Perla and San Juan Antigua • At points,
of the fortification
jut out toward the ocean, creating narrower and
steeper necks between the 'tfall and the shore line.
although minor in the entire
ments to break the linear
direction.
These projections,
expression are the only substantial
quality,
that stretches
'tfith paths that
ele-
in an eas't-wes t
Hovever, 'tfithin the texture of the housing itself
are paths running perpendicular to the shore.
irregular
the turrets
there
At an equal intensity
follO'tf the predominant contour direction,
they fonn an
grid of a rather small scale, which in the whole complex
IE CORBUSIER,
Talks vlith Students, p. 4.
PlATE II.
GENERAL VIEW OF IA PERIA
reads as a texture more than a directional
The Northern face, .that is,
expression.
the vie1-1when approached from the ocean,
is an experience in absolute hor'Lzorrta.Lf,
ty.
The settlement is
powerfully pressed be~weenthe fortification
and the water line.
Behind the walls, the silhouette
sive vertical
differentiation.
of the t01-ffidoes not show extenIt may be even assumed as another
superimposed compliment to' the horizontali ty of the ocean and the
wall.
At present,
the main vehicular approach to Ia Perla is from the
Valde Boulevard which runs parallel
to the wall on the city side.
Froma fork a road descends the cliff
and enters through a narrow
wall gate into the area; follOlving the linear wall pattern,
the main body of housing.
Eventually,
above
with a sharp turn at the ce-
metary, it joins the parking lot of Fort Brooke, exiting through
another gate in the wall.
inhabi tants,
The very few cars, which are ownedby the
are parked by the curbs.
centage of vehicular owership,
With the present low per-
this appears to be sufficient.
this road, which is formally tied to the fortification,
a cul-de-sac,
actually
which may be referred
is relatively
to as the "square";
wide -- a street
turret
surrounding structures,
stands.
there branches
The "square"
with shops on both sides and
stopped at the Eastern end by a formidable cliff
which a fortress
From
of massive rock, on
It is completely enclosed by the
permitting no visual
connection to the sea.
14.
Hith the exception of this "square" the fonnal structure
communityis that of a continuous texture,
As to facilities
for collective
dwellers have utilized
activity
the streets.
of the
:practically 1-Ti
thout gaps.
and gathering :points, the
The irregular but perfectly
directioned arcades of La. Perla, have somehowtransformed themselves
from mere devices of circulation,
into rich, vivid lines of :public
acti vi t"y, of intense color and vitality.
in La. Perla is never a tube or
sibly lies in the fact that a street
a straight
corridor,
The credit for this pos-
(maybeas the "happy accident") but a plastic
addition of small spaces ,nth rather exaggerated pro:portions, yet an
harmonioustotality.
tion,
These spatial
fonD.locks with sufficient
sequences, besides giving direc-
de:pths and widths to be experienced
as defined s:paces.
In these streets
:peoplemeet, talk,
other words, live the collective
relax, :play, fight or flirt,
life.
In these streets
in
I saw a
polio victim child in a "Theelchair being cooled 1-Ti
th the garden hose,
and the youngwomanthat vas stabbed by her rival,
:proudly displaying
her wound.
2.
People and Economy:
"It was the day after my first visit to La.
Perla, whena friend very seriously warned
me, 'Youmust never go there alone.'
vlhen
I asked him the reason all he told me vas
15.
'You know there are many bad people in
there.' I then asked him whether he had
ever been to La Perla. The answer was
native."
This practically sums up the thoughts of San Juan towards La Perla.
In order to Lnves t.gate the basis of this "Casbah" expression, maybe
it will be wise to take a very brief look into the economic development of Puerto Rico in,the Past decade.
To start with, the island had never shown a fruitful economy in spite
of its limited but sufficient resources.
political and partially social.
The causes were mainly
And, as the result of a weak economic
standing, there formed two main mass migrations;
from the country to
San Juan, and from San Juan to the Continent, to New York in particular.
The former, which mainly relates to the topic of this study, is a
usual phase in an underdeveloped
trialization.
country in the early stages of indus-
Again, as usual, the availability
of work in San Juan de-
creased promptly, due to the small size of new establishments,
only a minor percentage of the immigrants.
ment crystallized;
employing
Thus a problem of unemploy-
needless to say,the physical consequences
of the
situation, within the pattern of the city, were slums and blighted
settlements.
Within these communities,
and prostitution
social problems such as thievery
spread, as means of survival.
passive attitude of the authorities
The reluctant and
permitted this corruption within
16.
the areas.
The reaction of the
segregation.
society towards these groups was local
However, in the past few years, there have been valuable
attempts made by the authorities,
regarding mass housing developments
in different parts of the island.
These mostly appear as satellite
settlements for the present centers of employment,
where the people
can either own a piece of land that can be cultivated or can be employed
by a local establishment.
The relocation
of the families is made with respect to their choice
from a fairly wide selection of new settlements.
sulted in the demolishing
This, of course, re-
of a large portion of the slums in San Juan.
However, there still exists a substantial
amount, and La Perla is one
of them.
living in La Perla today is
The estimated number offamilies
800, with an average of 3.8 persons per family.
There is a very large percentage
poverty-stricken
of unemployment,
group in the settlement.
which results in a
On the other hand, there
exists another group which live in the higher portion of the area,
near the street, and the city wall, that is relatively
are the ones that work in San Juan Antigua.
shop-keeping
to low levels of government employment.
It is not sur-
in many houses.
But,
in every case, the minimum amount of attention and care is
devoted to the house itself.
ownership.
These
Their jobs vary from
prising to find TV sets along with refrigerators
practically
wealthy.
This is the result of insecurity of
The fact that the government
as yet has no concrete de-
17.
velopment
program for the place, forces the people to invest their
funds in more mobile conveniences
for living, since they are not sure
whether or not the land will be expropriated.
Aside from those who work in San Juan, the rest of the population
actually has little or no sympathy for the location.
their living in La Perla is mainly the low rentals.
The reason for
They are generally
willing to evacuate the place as soon as they are ensured a house and
a job somewhere elee.
These preferences
of location vary, but mostly
correspond to the part of the island where th~y originally
There is also an interesting
psychological
insist onliving in the slum conditions
came from.
fact about the people who
of La ferIa.
Although
it is
obvious that life would be of a much higher standard if they went back
to their areas of origin, even without the promised house and the job,
but they simply cannot accept
successful returnees
facing the people "back home," as un-
that once set off with high ambitions and hopes.
This is also true regarding
the Puerto Ricans living in New York.
There-
fore what they demand, if they ..are to go back, are better facilities
which they can express as their achievement.
This feeling, even though
seemingly irrational and naive, is a powerful determinant
of their actions.
Aside from these general facts, La Perla as a society, has a unique
public life.
ing points.
The small street; cafes and bars are the traditional
gather-
They are mostly used by men, while groups of women gather
mostly on the streets and converse while observine the children.
Al-
18.
though recently a
playground has been developed,
any of ,my trips, a single child playing in it.
passages and the winding steps between
The inhabitants
The intriguing
the houses of La Perla, are
preferred as pJaygrounds by the youngsters.
attracts many people.
I have not seen in
The shore line also
of the lower section of the
settlement, which is mainly composed of the unemployed,
raised shacks.
In order to prevent destruction
sit under
of the shacks from
the tide and rough waves, the houses in the lowest portion of the area
are constructed over wooden columns allowing a clearance for people
to crawl under and rest on the sand in the shade.
The remaining portion of the beach serves as the garbage disposal
area or the trash dump, which becomes another interesting playground
for the children.
because ~
The beach in general is not suitable for swimming
rocks are everywhere.
However, at places pools of water with
sand bottoms exist and are extensively
used by the people and children for
bathing.
3. Climate:
San Juan is located on the northeast
at Latitude l8°28'N. and Longitude
coast of the Island of Puerto Rico
66°7'W.
It is completely
surrounded
by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and San Juan Bay.
The climate is tropical marine, slightly modified by insular influences
when land breezes blow.
at night, consequently
Radiational
cooling frequently
causes land winds
somewhat lower njght time iemperatures occur than
19.
would normally be experienced with sea breezes.
This air drainage
from the higher altitudes in the interior of the Island to the coastal
areas giv~ delightfully
invigorating night~mperatures,
especially during
December, January and February.
Characteristic
of all tropical marine climates, San Juan has a small annual
range of temperature.
The difference between the average temperatures
of
the warmest and coolest months is only about 5.60• This is also true concerning the absolute range of temperature.
0
is 9 6 and the lowest,
The highest temperature record
62.o. These conditions are in significant contrast
to those prevailing in the mountain- and valley regions of the interior,
where much greater daily and
annual ranges of temperature
San Juan's average annual rainfall is 6~
tribution throughout the year.
inches, with farily even dis-
The heavier monthly amounts normally occur
during the period from May to December,
inclusive.
the showery type except for continuous rabwhich
the passge of tropical storms.
occur.
Rainfall is generally
occurs in connection with
There is an average of only 5 days a year
entirely without sunshine, although there is an average of 209 days a year
with measurable precipitation.
followed by sunshine.
Daytime showers are practically always
Dense fogs never occur in the San Juan area.
The easterly trade winds prevail through the year.
constantly from the ocean during daylight hours.
The wind is almost
Usually at night, the
wind shifts to the south or souteast , off the land.
20.
Puerto Rico is in the tropical hurricane
Caribbean
region of the eastern
where the seas~n for these storms begins June 1st and
ends November
30th.
Several hurricanes
effect this area every
season, but 't-reather
records show that only five of these storms
have caused winds of hurricane
the past 50 years.
intensity
in the San Juan area during
21.
STATISTICAL
INFORMATION ON IA PERIA
PEOPLE AND ECONOMY - I.
Number of d'tfellingunits
Number of families
Medium
1.
496
3.96
807
persons per family
1.72 families per dwelling
unit
Ownership:
Owns the house alone
Owns the house' and the lot
Rents the house and the lot
No infonnation
186 families
160 families
23.0%
407
"
50.4%
54
"
19.8%
6.8%
2. Condition of the Houses (according to Puerto Rican housing standards):
Good
Fair
Bad
96
"
25.8%
19.4%
272
"
54.8%
128 houses
3. Building Materials:
Load bearing wall structures
wad bearing wall and wood frame
structures
Wood frame structures
4.
27 structures
225
244
"
tI
45.4%
49.2%
Use of Structures:
Residential
Connnercial
Combined
460 houses
26 houses
10
"
92.7%
5.3%
2.0%
22.
5· Number of Persons in Familie s :
1 person
2 persons
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
or more
144 Families
121
102
II
II
II
98
II
II
II
II
94
53
1+5
50
33
21
II
II
II
II
fl
II
II
II
46
11
17.8%
15.0%
12.6~~
12.2%
11.6%
6.6%
5.6%
6.2%
II
lJ..·.1%
II
2.6%
5.7%
no information
6. Families with School-Age Children:
323 Families have no school age children
1 child
99 Families have
2 children
94 Families
62
3
"n
4
24
5
19
"
6
3
no information
183
II
11
11
II
II
II'
7. Age Distribution
of School Children:
9 Children
46
56
76
58
73
53
53
44
43
34
51
8.
5 years old
6 "
7
8
9
10 "
11 "
"
12
13 "
14 "
15
and over
16
II
II
11
11
II
II
II
11
II
11
11
11
11
11
11
"
11
11
11
II
11
II
tJ
II
II
"
Unemployment
40.0%
12.3%
11.6%
7.7%
3.0%
2.4%
o.45~
22.6%
II
status:
Permanently employed
Temporarily employed
Unemployed
No information
239 families
98
234
236
"
29.6%
12 .2~G
II
29. 5~b
"
28.7%
23.
9· Income level (yearly):
Income
No. Families
Percentage
$300 or be.Low
$301 - 600
$601 - 900
'$901 - 1,200
$1,201 - 1,500
$1,501 - 1,800
$1,801 - 2,400
$2,401 ~ 3,000
$3,001 - 3,600
$3,601 and over.
154
75
101
146
144
73
75
26
9
4
19.1%
9·4%
12.5%
18.1%
17.8%
9.0%
9.3%
3.2%
1.1%
0.5%
10. Place of Work:
San Juan
San Turce
Puerto de Tierna
Bp.yaInon
Unemployed
No Information
11. Rent Distribution:
12.
420 families
II
56
II
6
II
82
234
"
109
"
(Monthly)
Rent
No. Families
Percentage
No rent
$5.00 and be10,-'
$5.00 to $10.00
$10.00 to $15.00
$15.00 to $20.00
$20.00 to $25.00
$25.00 to $30.00
$30.00 and above
200
54
252
153
90
29
15
14
24.8%
6.7%
31.35b
18. 910
11.1%
3.6%
1.9%
1.7%
31 House lots
II
n
338
6.3%
68.1%
25 .67~
land O1mership:
Federal Government
Municipali ty
Private
127
u
II
24.
13. Time of Residence:
less than 3 years
3 to 5 years
5 to 8 years
8 to 11 years
11 to 15 years
15 to 20 years
20 years or more
298 families
82
"
59
32
44
"
42
"
No information
153
If
If
97
If
"
36 ·CJOJ~
10.2%
7.3%
4.0%
5.4%
5.2%
12.0%
19·°%
14. Choice of Settlement!::
121 familie s
295
36
160
"
8
"
187
"
Puerta de Tierra
Parcela
San Turce
San Juan Antigua
Bayamon
No Choice
If
If
15 .O~h
36.5~~
4.4%
20 .05~
1.0%
23.1%
15· Vehicular O'Hnershi:p:
1 car, each (taxi-cabs)
1 delivery truck
2 families
1 family
Total Vehicles Owned
3
Above information is based upon the report,
Rican Planning Board, dated March
7, 1961.
prepared by the Puerto
25·
CLIMATOlOGICAL
DATA - II.
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29·
30.
DISCUSSION
FOR THE PROGRAMME
Even though the island of San Juan Antigua
ment plan,
redevelop-
(see Diagram A), there is still the question of "what; to
do 1fith La Perla.
Different
has a definite
II
attitudes
finite programme
have been taken by different
has yet been achieved.
groups, but no de-
Some groups propose
luxury
housing, with a shopping centre, vThile others argue that it should be
a park with recreational
facilities.
went so far as to propose
in its present
condition
Some romantic projectors
and back the idea of preserving
in order to retain its picturesque
We must flatly refuse the idea of preserving
inadequate
of developing
fact is that it is 'a
suffer all the effects of
facilities,
the La Perla area into a park with re-
which is mainly backed by the Institute
Culture of Puerto Rico, is partially
reasonable.
at East and West ends by two of the outstanding
of San Juan, the San Cristobal
destrian
drama.
living conditions.
The objective
creational
and its inhabitants
La Perla
it, no matter how dra-
matic La Perla visually may be; the inevitable
slum par excellence,
even
connection
The area, defined
historical
and El Morro Castles,
between these two focal points,
certain public activities.
H01vever, to introduce
a park is doubtful, 'since San Juan Antigua
ture contains a number of elaborate
parks.
of
monuments
justifies
a pe-
combined with
this connection
as
already '\vi
thin its strucIf there should be another
DIAGRAM A.
HISTORIO AREA
•
HOTELS
•
RaJSIm
LIGHT INDU3TRI
• Nathan1al S. Keith - Oarl Fe1s
o
32.
additional
in the EI Morro Fortifications,
park, the area enclosed
which today serves as the golf course of the Army officers,
in Fort Brooke, is the land more suitable
The dimensions
are much more generous,
stationed
for such a development.
and the environment
existing
is appropriate.
Actually,
such similar federal properties
personnel
housing and recreation
barbed wire and attached
of San Juan.
areas, completely
spot-lights,
This undoubtedly
serving as Army and Navy
segregated
are another pathetic
is a psychological
well as a visual one, in the total pattern
with
reality
disturbance,
as
of the city.
As to Fort Brooke, in the El Morro Grounds,
it may be groundless
to demand the entire area since the army also has certain office de-
On the other hand, no sound reason can be raised for
velopments.
keeping the area of the golf course out of public use.
The objective
of building
luxury housing
be rejected.
It is cammon practice
on better lands (predominantly
low-cost housing
today to erect high-cost
due to land purchasing
on cheap lands, mostly
land in the valuation
of society.
IIbetterlf grounds and incorporated
facilities
represented
housing
capacity),
and
the unfavorable
Is this the correct attitude?
It is my belief that, if the low-cost
high-cost
in La Perla, should also
developments
were erected on
with urban facilities,
were built on secondary
grounds,
while the
so that the
33·
assigned funds :partially
can be devoted either to artificial
or to the forming of new urban facilities,
ekistically
bettering
a muchmore
balanced society form.
Obviously in manycases this proposal Which.is rather more humanistic
than pragmatic, may not be applicable because of practical
socio-psychological reasons dominating the society.
:particular case of ~ Perla, within the total
settlement,
or even
However, for the
settling
of the San Juan
it is worth while to consider this ap:proach.
The present site of ill Perla is probably one of the most favorable in
the San Juan Metropolitan Area, as far as natural
setting
is concerned.
The steep slope, enabling an unobstructed vf.ewof the ocean to be obtained,
and the breeze (it eliminates air-conditioning
problems) are
obviously rare qualities.
Being near to the Urban Centre of San Juan Antd.gua, the governmentis
more or less in agreement with investing extensive funds for collective
urban facilities
in accordance with the redevelopment plan.
All of
these facts promote La. Perla as a "favorable" site and an ideal setting
for low-cost housing in terms of the afore-mentioned land-use theory.
Another problem is wha t to do with the people who live today in La Perla
and ,,,ork permanently ~n San Juan Antigua.
With respect to the prin-
cipal~that they should live near their work, someplanners,
suggest that they can be housed in the La Puntilla
today,
area which has just
been purchased from the Navyand zoned as a housing district.
is reasonable until
idea.
one considers the architectural
This
aspects of the
Hith respect to the topography of San Juan Antigua, I refuse
most violently
to erect any architectural
on this location.
expressaonbut
high-rise
"lhenwe look at the fonnation of San Juan Antigua,
we observe that it is a flat unity,
wal.Li-lith a narrow' strip
the point of ill Puntilla,
defined pm'lerfully by the old city
of surf around (see Diagramb).
this wrapping strip
However,at
develops into a penin-
sula, fonning a triangle
with generous dimensions that allow sufficient
base ground for vertical
elements, which actually 1vill contribute im-
mensely to the oval flatness
tectural
Anyarchi-
design in this area should therefore be an extreme expression
in verticality
and nothing else.
Then the question arises,
living?
of San Juan Antigua's unity.
are La Perla dwellers ready for high-rise
If we consider the fact that they raise hogs in La Perla
today, the answer is a definite
no.
The first
steps for them must
occur 1vithout radical changes in their environment.
Eliminate the pig
Otihe rvf.se, La Pun-
first
-- and then raise them up from the ground.
tilla
tOvlers 'trill develop into another Puerto Rican section of Nevr
York, where it is common
to find chickens being raised in apartment
houses.
The idea of keeping the inhabitants
of La. Perla,
Juan Antigua in La. Perla, even from a practical
complicated.
that work in San
view, wouLd not be
35·
DIAGIW1 B.
FORMAL EXPRESSION
OF SAN JUAN ANTIGUA
o
36.
First of all, there is no substantial
be undertaken
by the authorities
the land presently
of land purchasing
for low-cost housing,
belongs to the government.
of the society is concerned,
in the vicinity
problem
there exist no high-income
to oppose this continued
for these people.
crystallize
decision
living areas
The objective
the structure
area.
With this decision the sociological
of living
theory will
expression.
is not merely the design of a low-cost
is socially and technically
spot to
is the choice of a pattern
into an architectural
of
existence.
place the families that work in the San Juan Antigua
Now the most important
75%
As far as the reaction
it can be said toot ill Perla will be a suitable
Therefore
satisfactory,
settlement
that
but the creation within
of the city of an organism which acts as an area of
transi tion, vhe re urban living concepts
immense vitality
settlement
since
to
and sophistication
and environment
are introduced.
that is closely incorporated
with their
It should be a
with different
collective
urban activities.
However,
it is also realized that these people originated
society that was a defensive
cal rorm , The first approach
from a
unity, both in living patter and physiis therefore
texture into smaller components,
providing
the breaking
of this mass
that they will be inter-
connected With one another with strong bonds, which in the long view
will provide the total coherance
of the previous
pattern.
With the
37.
introduction
of these smaller components,
ment will be increased,
In execution,
however,
resulting
without
of the settle-
in a larger area of exterior
the problems
that were discussed
part of this study must be considered.
implementation
the perimeter
contact.
in the first
That is to say, the limit of
creating a completely
new world with unfamiliar
scales.
From the observations,
it is known that, today, the Ia Perla society,
even as a slum, reflects
certain favorable
life and as a formal pattern.
with the urban innovations
For instance,
So possibly
elements both in collective
the correct approach
is the maintenance
along
of these familiar values.
a "street in IB. Perla today, with its spatial quality
and function, might be a very sound image to retain in the new community.
Of course, the most important
society for healthier
living, is education.
such as adult education
formed.
and main problem
in pre:paring a slum
Along with schools,
centres and community
institutions
facilities,
have been
These, no doubt, will be of service.
In urban life, there is another institution
education,
and that is "recreation".
recreation,
integrated
in civilized
societies,
that goes band in hand with
As it has been throughout
is an institution
history,
of vast peri:phery,
with fine arts and :philoso:phy.
Along with conventional
be subjected
facilities
to urban education
of education,
La. Perla,
in the form of recreational
should also
establish-
38.
ments.
Thus, extreme formal sophistication
bined with the human and appealing
in that the people will perceive
in a less suppressive
can be introduced,
atmosphere
of recreation,
new expressions
comresulting
as well as scales,
manner.
It is then, that the theatre and the exhibition
hall will become labora-
tories of Urban life, where people will be prepared
for various aspects of
the collective urban living.
In return, the public facilities,
that serve the entire San Juan Metropo-
Iitan area, and are placed in La Perla, will benefit
housing settlement.
from the life of the
It is my belief that no public development
natural life without direct connections
of these areas that inject vitality
to living areas.
and animation
can have
It is the life
to any collective
func-
tion of Urban life.
Therefore
the program
public facilities
for La Perla can be outlined as a development
of
along 11ith low-cost housing that will serve as transi-
tion ground in the process of adapting
to urban living.
39·
SUMMARY OF THE PROGRAM
1.
Housing for 190 Families.
In accordance with the statistical Reports, Place of Work ( a - People
and Economy, Section 10) 420 families work in San Juan Area.
apply Permanent Employment
percentage
If ve
of 29.6% ( a - People and Economy,
Section 8), the resulting number of families that are permanently
ployed in that area will be 126.
Choice of settlement
em-
( a - People and
Economy, Section 14) gives the fact that 160 families would like to
remain in San Juan Antd.gua area.
for future contingencies,
accordance
From these figures, with allowance
there will be 180 to 190 households,
to the number of persons in families,
Section 5).
The spatial subdivision
20%
Efficiency
25%
I-Bedroom
30%
2-Bedrooms
25%
3-Bedrooms
and in
( a - People and Economy,
of the housing will be:
Housing will include a primary school for 100 children, and a food store.
2.
10,000 ft.
Theatre for 500 People.
3· Small Modern Arts Museum and Library Complex
Aquarium
5,000 ft.
5. Roman Catholic Church
2
2,000 ft.
2
2
40,000 ft.
2
40.
6.
Restaurants
and Cafes, of various
7 · Skating Rink
4,000 sq. ft.
8. Civic Centre
7 · 500 sq. ft .
9.
Small Exhibition
10.
Development
activities.
11.
Terminal
Hall
sizes
7,500 sq. ft.
of a ;pedestrian strand, with sho;pping and recreational
for Pleasure
and excursion boats.
500 sq. ft.
41.
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
As we have observed, the topographic
a strong linear quality.
Therefore
condition
of the site expresses
it ·Will be most logical to apply
a linear system, as the site organization.
The progrannne, basically
public facilities.
features two major aspects:
The extreme dimensional
elements demands an elaborate
closeness
study regarding
housing and the
of those two
the hierarchy
of spaces
ranging from extremely private to most public, vTith their relationships
to one another.
In solving this problem,
with the horizontal
s~parations
vertical
can be applied
differentiatiom
along
since the site is a steep
slope.
The overall spatial development
sensed spaces.
continium",
of the design may consist of t1-l0differently
The first kind is what we may call a development
which will provide the linear continuity
well as the formal coherence
II
space
of the organization
can be applied
Spaces of such quality can be introduced
focal areas of public activity
either as
or as points of decision where cross-circulation
occurs.
The circulation
the existence
as
of the housing.
At terminal or decision points, the static space treatment
as the second kind.
of
pattern of the area again needs special attention,
of public circulation
due to
along with the intimate circulation
42.
of the housing.
The cross circulation
points of the tvTO kinds should
be subjected to strict control.
As for the vehicular
circulation,
it will be reasonable
to keep the
private vehicles of the incomers out of the site, and permit service
traffic alone, since the main activity
based upon pedestrian
circulation.
of the public development
This idea is further reinforced
the fact that economic level of the housing anyhow eliminates
hicular ownership
and its attached problems,
is concerned,
mate environment,
certain positive
pattern,
are being introduced.
must express utmost sophistication.
may be lying in undisturbed
functional
reflections
the ve-
the housing and its intiimages of the previous
however more orderly, while with the public
scales and expressions
by
such as parking.
As far as the formal expression
must maintain
is
facilities,
nell
The public facilities,
At this point the answer for this
simplicity
of dominant
of these buildings
geometric
order.
The
to their immediate eA~erior
spaces, require study in order to decide the suitable locations
,nth
respect to the housing.
The natural advantages
tent, particularly
of the site must be benefited
in the design of housing.
to the utmost ex-
For instance,
the breeze
that comes from the ocean, can be utilized \n th simple devices and used
as the ventilating
and cooling element.
towards the wind direction
This may be achieved by openings
and wind catchers.
In overall construction
of housing economy,
must be the predominant
factors.
poured,
is probably
climatically
Concrete, precast
the best building material
and economically.
and flexibility
or monolithically
for Puerto Rico, both
The fact that the slope faces North,
decreases the sun control problems.
reflective
simplicity
However,
flat roofs of radiation
quality are the most suitable under any circumstances.
Above all, the main determinant
of the development
is the individual
human being who will live in this area, not as we assume or vTish to see
him, but as he is.
The moment we ·satisfy his emotional
needs in the urban setting, the problem
is solved.
and physical
44.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Abrahams, Charles.
Report on the Housing Program of the CommonvTealth
of Puerto Rico, 1957, Mimo. Report.
Commonwealthof Puerto Rico Planning Board. A City is People (Una
Ciudad - Un Pueblo), 1954, Aldus Printers,
New'York.
Fry, Maxwell, C.B.E.} F.R.I.B.A., and Jane Drew, F.R.I.B.A., Tropical
Architecture in the HumidZone, 1956, Reinhold Publishing Co., Ne1f York.
Harvard University, Comparative Housing Study, 1958, Harvard University,
Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Kepes, Gyorgy. The Visual Arts Today, 1960, Wesleyan University
Middleto1f.n, Connecticut.
Lynch, Kevin.
Mumford, Lewis.
The Image of the City,
The City in History,
1960, M.I.T.,
1961, Harcourt,
Press,
Harvard.
Brace and Hor1d Inc.
Puerto Rico Housing Authority, Commonwealthof Puerto Rico, 16th Annual
Report Fiscal Year 1953-54, Mimo. Report.
Urban RenevTa1and HOusing Administration/ Urban Renewal and Housing
Corporation, Common1'Tealth
of Puerto Rico. Housing Problems and Programs
in Puerto Rico, 1960, Mimo. Report.