

Penn State LARCH 414 Design Activism Studio
Designing for One Health in the amphibious informal community of Claverito, Iquitos, Peru
00 INTRODUCTION
Course Background
The Community of Claverito
Learning about Community Needs, Desires, Priorities
Study Abroad: Experiencing the Urban + Ecological Context
01 ONE HEALTH CONTEXT
Understanding One Health Issues in Claverito
Climate Change
Waterborne Pathogens
Malnutrition
Parasitic Diseases
Jungle Mosquito Diseases
Food Insecurity
Chagas Disease
Proximity-Related Respiratory Infections
Urban Biodiversity
Urban Mosquito Diseases
Asthma
Leptospirosis
Anxiety and Depression
Falling, Injury, and Drowning
Chronic Disease Risk
Animal Bites and Stings

02 HUMAN SCALE PROTOTYPES
Constructed designs to target One Health issues in Claverito at the family scale


Bamboo Bottles Barge Walkways for Health
The Floating Spring Home Helper Modular Multipurpose Chair

CAUGHT IN THE REEDS
03 COMMUNITY SCALE DESIGNS
Conceptual designs to target One Health issues in Claverito at the community scale


Caught in the Reeds: Biofloats, Habitat, and Opportunity
Camu Camu Healthscape: Unexpected Interactions Between Ecology, People + Place

Earthwork! Exploring the Potential of the Hillside


FOOD AND MEDICINE PODS
04 REFERENCES


Food and Medicine Pods: A New Way to Grow!
Women’s Economic Empowerment

(Em)bracing Claverito’s Hillside for Sustainable Community Health


(Em)Bracing Claverito’s Hillside for Sustainable Community Health




Dragonfly Sanctuary: Habitats to Address Mosquito-Borne Diseases in Claverito
The Plastic Program
Lands Acknowledgement
As landscape stewards and advocates for the environment, we wish to acknowledge we learn, live, and design on taken lands. The Penn State Stuckeman School and Department of Landscape Architecture occupy the traditional lands of the Lenape, Haudenosaunee, Shawnee, Susquehannock, and other Indigenous Peoples. As a land grant university, Penn State was granted close to 778,000 acres of Indigenous land from across the present day United States through the Morrill Act of 1862, most of which was sold to fund the University’s endowment. This land was the traditional land of over 112 Indigenous tribes, including the Yakama, Menominee, Apache, Cheyenne Arapaho, Pomo, Ho Chunk, Sac and Fox Nation, and Klamath.
We benefit from and are accountable for our widespread impact on these lands, peoples, and property ownership systems that shape our relations to the past, present, and future.

In addition, in this course, we are benefiting from the past and present Indigenous and urban Indigenous peoples who live in Iquitos, Peru, and in particular, in the community of Claverito. We acknowledge the role the United States and Europe played and continues to play in colonialism, structural racism, and resource extraction that has widespread impacts on the lands and their connection to culture, ecological destruction, health inequity, land insecurity, and more.
We will work hard to not contribute further to these inequities in the context of this class.

Recommended citation for this book: Andrews, Leann, Rebecca Bachman, Olivia Boon, Christopher Coughlin, Thomas Darlington, Keith Faminiano, Parker Kingshipp, Andrew Kuka, Anne Lai, Tegan Lochner, Megan Cherpak, Yael Andrade, Stephen Mainzer, Justin Brown. PennStateLARCH414DesignActivismStudio:DesigningforOneHealthintheAmphibiousInformal CommunityofClaverito,Iquitos,Peru . The Pennsylvania State University. 2023. ISBN: 979-8-218-23594-9.
Acknowledgements
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS
Olivia Boon
Christopher Coughlin
Thomas Darlington
Keith Faminiano
Parker Kingshipp
Andrew Kuka
Anne Lai
Tegan Lochner
ONE HEALTH SCHOLARS
Yael Andrade, M.S., Public / Global Health
Megan Cherpak, B.S., Veterinary Sciences
INSTRUCTION TEAM
Dr. Leann Andrews, Primary Instructor
Rebecca Bachman, Guest Instructor
Alejandra Jhonston, On-Site Coordinator
Xiomara Valdivia, Community Support
Juan Noa Tuanama, Community Liaison
SUPPORT
Hamer Center for Community Design Curriculum Support Grant
Institutes of Energy and the Environment Seed Grant
Penn State Department of Landscape Architecture
ADVISORS TO ONE HEALTH SCHOLARS
Dr. Leann Andrews, Landscape Architecture
Dr. Justin Brown, Veterinary Sciences
Dr. Robert Lennon, Hershey Medical Center
Dr. Stephen Mainzer, Landscape Architecture
GUEST CRITIQUE
Peter Aeschbacher, Architecture / Landscape Architecture
Coco Alarcon, Public Health, Landscape Architecture
Dr. Clarissa Albrecht, Architecture
Dr. Andy Cole, Landscape Architecture, Ecology
Dr. Kristina Hill, Landscape Architecture, Ecology
Dr. Robert Lennon, Hershey Medical Center
Lauren Sosa, Landscape Architecture
Alec Spangler, Landscape Architecture
Dr. Peter Stempel, Landscape Architecture
Dr. Roxi Thoren, Landscape Architecture
We are especially grateful to the residents of Claverito for the warm welcome into their community and their collaborative spirit.
Dr. Leann Andrews
Assistant Professor, Landscape Architecture
E+D (Ecology Plus Design)
PI, One Health Scholars Program
Penn State
This design activism studio builds upon an existing relationship I and my Peruvian and U.S. colleagues have nurtured with the community of Claverito through the InterACTION Labs program over the last seven years. Through the lens of a real community, this course helps students understand how much of an impact design of the built environment can have on human and non-human life, and that change for the better can happen through informed and inspired design. The work that you see in this studio book tackles a wide range of “wicked problems” that loom in our interconnected global community: climate change, pandemics, species and ecosystems loss, rapid urbanization, fading of Indigenous cultures, informal settlements, and extreme social inequity. This studio also connects to the One Health Scholars program to provide a unique applied and transdisciplinary education opportunity for graduate and undergraduate students in landscape architecture, veterinary sciences, and public health.
While grounded in the realities of the community of Claverito, the design ideas found in this book are to be seen as academic exercises, and the residents have been informed, and reminded, of this throughout the semester and afterward. That said, these ideas are intended to spark conversations, both amongst themselves and with decision-makers and external advocates, on how the community of Claverito sees their future. It is the hope that both vernacular and professional built solutions may evolve from the conceptual ideas of students. It is also the hope that students will carry these skills with them to positively impact the many communities they will encounter in their future careers.
The final design ideas were presented to the community of Claverito on July 16, 2023, and received with excitement, hope, and planning. The results of the hard work of students, the One Health Scholars, the teaching and administration team, and especially the residents of Claverito may be seen with time.

Gemina Garland-Lewis
00 INTRODUCTION
Course Background
COURSE PREMISE
Significant increases in mining, agriculture, and oil extraction and related wildfires in the Amazon Rainforest in the last decade have degraded Amazon ecosystems, spurring mass species loss, interrupting local to global climate regulation, and causing rapid migration of Indigenous peoples to jungle cities such as Iquitos, Peru. With nowhere to go once arriving in the city, the cash poor families find themselves settling in informal slum communities, yet continuing their familiar traditional practices of living on the floodplain in floating and stilted houses. Without assistance with sanitation, water, or infrastructure, the intertwined health of the people, the animals, and the environment — or One Health — suffers. Issues such as chronic diarrhea, infectious and zoonotic diseases, injuries, poor mental health, malnutrition, biodiversity loss, and severe stigma toward their Indigenous roots hinder quality of life.
This studio connects with the informal amphibious slum community of Claverito to address these interconnected health issues through the design of their built environment. This studio also builds upon the InterACTION Labs program, a transdisciplinary action research and training program with partnerships between the Community of Claverito, Penn State, the University of Washington, the Centro de Investigaciones Tecnológicas Biomédicas y Medioambientales, the Universidad Nacional de la Amazonía Peruana Traction, and the National Institutes of Health in both the United States and Peru.
Specifically, students in this studio explored:
One Health. Students learned about interconnections between the health of humans, animals, and the environment and how specific One Health issues can be addressed through the design of the built environment.
Transdisciplinary Collaboration. This course connected to the Penn State One Health Scholars program and students and faculty across the veterinary and medical sciences to stimulate evidence based designs and ideas influenced by different disciplinary perspectives. It also connected with residents in the informal community of Claverito in Iquitos, Peru, through interviews and workshops.
Design Making Across Scales. Students worked with their hands to design practical yet bold solutions at the small household scale, and built upon their skills in prior coursework to design and plan community scale solutions.
Ethics. This course emphasized empathic design, cultural mindfulness, social and ecological responsibility and accountability, and non-Western ways of thinking and making. The travel component emphasized best practices in visiting a non-Western country, sensitive ecosystem, and vulnerable population. Students nurtured individual critical stances and questioning to further their personal design ethics.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Explore design activism within landscape architecture, and learn about need initiated design as opposed to client initiated design.
Develop an in-depth understanding of how the built environment is a determinant of health for both humans and animals.
Acknowledge your personal biases and backgrounds, absorb non-Western cultures and non academic epistemologies, and design from diverse perspectives other than your own.
Strengthen applied empathy skills and community engagement techniques.
Learn about evidence-based design and the use of research and assessment to increase accountability.
Nurture and expand upon digital, verbal, and written communication and cross-cultural translation skills.
Critically engage in the course topics to nurture personal design stances and ethics.




City of Iquitos (500,000 people)
Amazon River
Amazon Rainforest (32 million people)
Traditionally Settled Amphibious Communities In the Urban Floodplain (90,000 people)
Community of Claverito (280 people)
The Community of Claverito, Iquitos, Peru











Claverito is a vibrant community within a unique “amphibious” floodplain ecosystem that supports the life of 280 people, 240 domestic animals, and hundreds of species of wild birds, insects, fish, amphibians, and reptiles. Claverito is also an informal community and lacks safe water, sewer, electricity, and infrastructure. The community’s extreme poverty and traditional lifestyle are often met with negative stigma from those who live in the upper parts of the city, resulting in trash and construction dumping and a further lack of support and degraded health. Yet, the people’s traditional lifestyle also supports a rich ecosystem and unique riverine culture, both of which are under threat.

All photos except bottom four on this page © Gemina Garland-Lewis; Drone imagery by Kevin Mauro Rodriguez Arce



LOW RIVER SEASON
August to December the 53 houses rest on the ground and residents are busy with agriculture, gardening, sports, and revitalizing their houses and infrastructure.




HIGH RIVER SEASON
February to June the traditionally-designed community floats on the river and residents fish, swim, and boat within a rich floodplain ecosystem.


High River Season


Experiencing the Ecological and Urban Context
Students traveled to Iquitos, Peru for 10 days over spring break to learn about the urban and ecological context in which Claverito is situated.











Learning About Community Needs, Desires and Priorities
Over the course of the semester students gained insight into the community of Claverito in a variety of ways:
1. SURVEY
In February 2023, local team members conducted a survey with residents to understand their daily life.
Resultados de la Encuesta con Vecinos Claverito
Cosas

2. GUEST PERSPECTIVES
Students met with community leader Juan Noa Tuanama several times via Zoom and in-person to ask questions and gain insight into community preferences. Students also heard from local designers Gabriela Vildosola, Coco Alarcon, and Rebecca Bachman about physical and health challenges and the data findings of the InterACTION Labs program which has been working closely with Claverito since 2016.
Cosas
2.


To support interdisciplinary learning, students heard lectures on related One Health topics from Dr. Kristina Hill (ecological design), Dr. Sona Jasani (health of women and babies), Dr. Larry Gorenflo (traditional cultures and biodiversity), Dr. Robert Lennon (riverine community health), and Dr. Justin Brown (human-animal disease transmission). Dr. Andy Cole (ecology and design), Dr. Lauren Sosa (landscape architecture), and Alec Spangler (landscape architecture) also joined the class for design critiques, and our class had a design idea exchange day with Dr. Clarissa Albrecht’s class of architecture students who were working with a lowincome community in Brazil.
In addition, this course connected with the One Health Scholars program. Penn State students Megan Cherpak (veterinary sciences) and Yael Andrade (public health) joined the class to act as human and animal health consultants to the students’ environmental health projects.
3. TOURS
Community members led students on both a walking and boating tour of Claverito in which students could experience the community firsthand. Drone videos from the InterACTION Labs program also offered a helpful perspective of the community throughout the seasons and years.

4.
COMMUNITY MEETING
Students presented their initial design ideas to residents, and residents then voted on their favorite ideas. In exchange for their time and knowledge, students co-created a sign at the entrance of Claverito designed to attract tourists and combat stereotypes.



01 ONE HEALTH CONTEXT
Understanding One Health Issues in Claverito
CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON HEALTH
In Claverito, Peru
Climate change is the biggest health threat to life on Earth (WHO, 2021).
GLOBAL CAUSES






The burning of fossil fuels increases global temperatures. To avoid catastrophic health impacts and millions of deaths, the world must limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C (UN, 2022) (WHO, 2021)
AMAZON IMPACTS
GLOBAL IMPACTS
Species and biodiversity loss due to changing weather, habitat destruction, and invasive species





Drought causing crop loss, ecosystem damage, and lack of water access
Food shortages as fisheries, crops, and livestock are damaged
Extreme weather events and sea level rise threaten ecosystems and communities
Displacement as weather-related events force populations to move (UN, 2022)
Spread of infectious diseases

Increased insect infestation
Decreased agricultural yield


Degredation of fresh water systems
Soil loss


DID YOU KNOW? Althought it makes up only around of the planet’s surface, the Amazon rainforest is home to 10% of all known wildlife species (WWF, 2022)

CLAVERITO IMPACTS





Water pollution


Increased insect infestation
Infrastructure damage
PERU IMPACTS
Flooding causes extensive health effects, including decrease in food production, water provision, ecosystem disruption, and infectious disease outbreak. Longer term effects of flooding include post-traumatic stress and population displacement (WHO, 2022)


Flooding in Iquitos
WATERBORNE PATHOGENS
In Claverito, Peru
WATERBORNE ILLNESS CAUSES
Waterborne illness is caused by recreational or drinking water contaminated by disease-causing microbes or pathogens. Many waterborne pathogens can also be acquired via contaminated food or beverages, from contact with animals or their environment, or through person-to-person spread (WHO, 2022)





WATERBORNE ILLNESS IMPACTS
Contaminated water can transmit diseases such as cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio. It is also estimated to cause 485,000 deaths from diarrhearelated complications each year (WHO, 2022).
E.COLI










(Mayo Clinic, 2022)

DID YOU KNOW? In Claverito, water hyacinth reduced E.coli in shallow water to levels deemed safe by U.S. EPA for recreational use. (Rebecca B Neumann, Susan Cilene Paredes Fernández, Leann Andrews, et al., 2022)
CHOLERA
Water hyacinth in Claverito


CAUSES







CLAVERITO IMPACTS
• 11% of houses in Belén, had fecal matter in their water from the municipal water company (Faldetta et al., 2014)


Thirst Leg Cramps Diarrhea
PREVENTION



Wash hands Wash produce Cook meat
2022)
• Cholera caused 9,000 deaths from 1991-1993 in Peru (Bachman, 2020)
• The United States EPA recommends E. coli stay below 126 CFU/100 ml- Claverito is at levels of 7700 CFU/100 ml (Rebecca B Neumann, Susan Cilene Paredes Fernández, Leann Andrews, et al., 2022)
Possible contaminated water
Drink bottled water if possible to prevent cholera (CDC, 2022)

MALNUTRITION
[MAL·NYOO·TRISH·UHN]
Malnutrition is an imbalance between the nutrients your body needs to function and the nutrients it gets. It can mean undernutrition or overnutrition. You can be malnourished from an overall lack of calories, or you might have a protein, vitamin or mineral deficiency. You might also have more excess calories than your body knows what to do with.





STUNTING SYNDROME
We view this condition as a ‘stunting syndrome’ in which multiple pathological changes marked by linear growth retardation in early life are associated with increased morbidity and mortality, reduced physical, neurodevelopmental and economic capacity and an elevated risk of metabolic disease into adulthood. Stunting is a cyclical process because women who were themselves stunted in childhood tend to have stunted offspring, creating an intergenerational cycle of poverty and reduced human capital that is difficult to break.






ANEMIC SYMPTOMS

SHORTNESS
IRREGULAR HEARTBEATS
PALE/YELLOWISH SKIN
WEAKNESS
FATIGUE
ANEMIC POPULATION OF CLAVERITO
DIZZYNESS
LIGHTHEADEDNESS
CHEST PAIN
COLD HANDS/FEET
HEADCHES

DIET PREDOMINANTLY FISH & WHOLE GRAINS

DEFICITES OF VEGETABLES, GRAINS, FATS AND OILS FOR BOTH ADULTS & CHILDREN
SUGAR & GRAINS INTAKE ABOVE RECOMENDATIONS
FISH INTAKE EXCEEDS RECOMENDATIONS
MAIN CONCERNS REGUARD LACK OF CORRECT FOODS
PARASITIC DISEASES
[PARR · UH · SIT · IK] [DI · ZEEZ · UHZ]
Parasitic disease, in humans, is any illness that is caused by a parasite: an organism that lives in or on another organism (known as the host).
SYMPTOMS


HOW TO PREVENT


BLOATING DIARRHEA
NAUSEA
ABDOMINAL PAIN
FEVER
VOMITING
VITAMIN A DEFICIENCY
LOSS OF APPETITE
GROWTH RETARDATION` FATIGUE
WASH YOUR HANDS REGULARLY
BOIL WATER BEFORE DRINKING
WEAR SHOES WHEN OUTSIDE
STAY AWAY FROM SPOILED FOOD
KEEP CHILDREN’S HANDS OUT OF MOUTH
BATHE AS REGULARLY AS POSSIBLE
Percent of Peruvians with Parasites
Percent of Clavarito Residents with Parasites
Percent of Harmful vs Harmless Parasites in Claverito

Trich (Trichomonas h. vaginalis)

Transmitted during sex; not common to infect other body parts
Threadworm (Larva Strongyloides stercoralis)
Penetrates bare skin on infested soil, also sheets, clothing, sitting on soil
Hookworm (Uncinarias stenocephala)
Exposed skin comes in contact with infective larvae in contaminated soil or grass
Giardia Intestinalis (Giardia lamblia)
Whipworm (Trichuris triciura)
Fecal Ingestion (food, fecal-oral contact, water)
consume contaminated food, water, ingesting contaminated soil
Tapeworm (Ascaris lumbricoides) 6 consume contaminated soil and water, children playing in soil, soiled toys
JUNGLE MOSQUITO DISEASES
Malaria 1 2 Encephalitis
Vector: Anopheles Mosquito
Symptoms: flu-like illness, chills, headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea (CDC, 2022)
IQUITOS
Vector: Culex Mosquito
Symptoms: flu-like illness, fever, headache, confusion, speech difficulty, lost conciousness (NHS, 2022)
TRANSMISSION CYCLE
residents travel to visit family, to fish, to claim land for Chakras (farms) in low-river season
AT-RISK POPULATIONS





Children Pregnant Impoverished Rural Limited Healthcare
2-12km, 40-290m above ground
Flight Radius (Kaufmann et al., 2004)
~3 2km, 4 7m above ground
Flight Radius (CDC, 2022)
min. - 2 hrs+ boat ride
Larva Eggs
Pupa AMAZON JUNGLE
Anopheles Mosquito
Culex Mosquito
Pigs, Wading Birds
FOOD INSECURITY

Anxiety about food (source, situation)

Insufficient quantity (adults and children)
Insufficient quality (nutritional value, preference, diversity)
Closest grocery store “Los Portales” unaffordable
“Mercado de Productales”: place to sell farm products and eat
IQUITOS
Sitgma as “slum” from city Access carrier: fringe location
Reduced intake (adults and children)

Consequences of reduced food intake (children and adults)
Seasonal Chakras
High-River Season



Feelings of shame for the way food is obtained
Low-River Season








Generational poverty
Compounded chronic illness cycles
Exposure to disease and pollutants
(Fanta Project, 2007)
Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS)
...IN CLAVERITO






11 pigs (1 household)
1 pig feeds 50-100 people
157 chickens (14 households)
1 chicken feeds 4 people, ~1 egg/day
12 ducks (4 households)
1 duck feed 2-3 people
InterAction Labs, 2016-2018




FOOD SECURITY




Informal agroforesty farms (family members in jungle)
HEALTH CONSEQUENCES
Adults: diabetes, high blood pressure, other diet-related chronic illnesses
Children: delayed development, asthma, anemia, behavioral issues, etc.
(Feeding America, 2023)
Low-River Season Chakras








Anthropogenic climate change will affect supply and diversity of fish
AMAZON JUNGLE








ASTHMA
Asthma triggers. Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America. (2023, January 17). from https:// aafa.org/asthma/asthma-triggers-causes/

ALLERGIES EXERCISE

COOKINGG MATERIALS IN CLAVRITOS

Bachman, R. A. Rottle, N. Reimagining the Amphibious City: From Health Data to Ecological Design in an Amazonian informal community.
OCCUPATIONAL
POLLUTION




LEPTOSPIROSIS Transmission
INFECTED
WATER, URINE, AND OTHER BODILY
FLUIDS
OF HUMANS, RODENTS, AND BOTH WILD AND DOMESTIC
ANIMALS
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infection of Leptospirosis.








Symptoms
High fever
Headache
Chills
Muscle aches
Vomiting
Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes)
Red eyes
Abdominal pain
Diarrhea
Rash

LEPTOSPIROSIS ANTIBODIES

AREA (FADED ANTIBODIES) 33%
12%


Bachman, R. A. Rottle, N. Reimagining the Amphibious City: From Health Data to Ecological Design in an Amazonian informal community.
Age, Gender, and Socio-economic Status
Women, the elderly, and members of minoritized groups are at relatively high risk of anxiety and depression. These groups are especially likely to be targets of abuse, leading to trauma, fear, stress, and subsequent mental health issues (Rondon, 2009).

MAJOR RISK FACTORS
Stress
Environmental stressors like exposure to loud noises, pollution, crowds, and extreme weather/ temperature and social stressors like civic unrest and poverty can contribute to anxiety and depression.

In Iquitos, Peru
Health (Sleep, Nutrition, Exercise, & Illness)
Good physical health, a balanced diet, and adequate rest and exercise are critical in maintaining good mental health. of Peruvians in the Loreto region live below the poverty line, challenging their ability to stay healthy (Loreto, n.d.).


Trauma
Memories of painful experiences can trigger anxiety or depression. This includes but is not limited to the death of a loved one, physical or emotional abuse, and political violence like that seen in Peru through the 1980’s (Rondon, 2009).
(Raza, 2020)
(Kumar, 2018)
(Castaneda, 2022)
(Caretur Loreto, n.d.)
PHYSICAL
EFFECTS

Fatigue, muscle aches, pain gastrointestinal issues, rapid breathing and an increased heart rate.
MENTAL & EMOTIONAL
Sense of impending doom, difficulty focusing, constant irritibiliy or sadness, suicidal thoughts.
SOCIAL
Withdrawl from social activity, drug/ alcohol abuse and addiction.

Risk factors accumululate, and become overwhelming.
PERUVIAN ACCESS TO CARE
2012, just of Peruvians estimated to need mental health services actually received them”














of Peruvians in need of mental health care do not seek help because they lack either information or ability to pay.
© Vemaps.com
Claverito

(Chang, 2020)
(Icon0.com, n.d.)
(World Bank, 2018, p.12)
(World Bank, 2018)
(Vemaps.com, 2019, p.12)
FALLING, INJURY, & DROWNING
Environmental Hazards
FALLING, INJURY, & DROWNING In Iquitos, Peru
Conditions in amphibious communities including: unmaintained and slippery paths, muddy or uneven ground, animals, and thick vegetation can lead to falls, injury, and drownings.

Access to Care
Wounds from falls and injuries risk bacterial infection. This risk is especially high where there is limited access to clean water and medical care.

Economic Situation
Major Risk Factors
Safety Standards & Informal work

of Peruvians in the Loreto region live below the poverty line (Loreto, n.d.). When injured, they may still be compelled to work or go without meals or other necessities. 63% 63%
Age & Health
Children, the elderly, and those with mobility issues

(International Labour Organization, 2020)
(Andrews et al., 2023)
(Andrews et al., 2023)
(Luke, 2020)
Managing Risk with Updated Infrastructure
A newly constructed staircase connecting Claverito and downtown Iquitos substantially reduces risk of falling and injury.

Continuing Risk
Claverito’s floating paths continue to present a tripping hazard. Risk of injury is compounded by the garbage and bacteria rich riverwater just below the path.
Claverito
Falls & Injury on Staircase
3 months Before/After New Construction (2016/17)

Before New Stairs After New Stairs
Falls or Injuries on Stairs
People Reporting a Fall or Injury
Falls & Injury on Floating Path in 2 Months (2018)

(Andrews et al., 2023)
Chronic Disease Risk
Root Causes
. Lack of Medical Resources
. Environmental Dangers
. Unclean Environment

Out of Normal Range Could Cause Stroke, Heart attack, Other Diseases


Mayo Clinic 2023 - https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-bloodpressure/symptoms-causes/syc-20373410
Data from Professor Andrews Study





Low Glucose Levels
“This can lead to blurred vision, difficulty concentrating, confused thinking, slurred speech, numbness, and drowsiness.”
American Diabetes Association - https:// diabetes.org/healthy-living/medication-treatments/ blood-glucose-testing-and-control/hypoglycemia#:~:text=This%20can%20lead%20to%20blurred,coma%2C%20 and%20very%20rarely%20death.
High Glucose Levels
“Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) – a condition caused by the body needing to break down fat as a source of energy, which can lead to a diabetic coma; this tends to affect people with type 1 diabetes”
NHS INFORM, 2023 - https://www.nhsinform.scot/ illnesses-and-conditions/blood-and-lymph/hyperglycaemia-high-blood-sugar#:~:text=Very%20high%20blood%20sugar%20 levels,people%20with%20type%201%20diabetes



Claverito Body Mass Index Data
Data from Professor Andrews Study
Healthy Weight



Animal Bites and Stings
Root Causes
. Close Proximity to wild animals.
. Daily interactions with animals
. Hunting and eating animals
Piranhas

. Teeth Replace in Quarters
. Will Only Attack if Provoked
. Attracted to Noise, Blood, and Splashing
Helen Thompson, 2014
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/14-fun -facts-about-piranhas-180951948/

Some Build Webs Around Trash

Some Live on the Wood Planks
Bird Watching HQ, 22 Common Spiders
Found in Peru https://birdwatchinghq.com/spiders-of-peru/
Dog Bite Care



Some Species Bites Hurt Bad
Insects
1169 reported species of wasps in Peru.




Use card to scrape out Stinger not tweezers Zookeys, 2009



Text From Stephanie Watson, 2022, Fetch By Web MD, https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/dog-bites



Snakes Cats

Map From Chippaux, Jean-Philippe , 2017. Found on Research
Gate - https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Geographical-distribution-of-incidence-of-snakebites-in-Peru-2000-2015-Guillermo-Romero_fig12_317820265

Jaguars, Pumas, Ocelots

Feral and Domestic Cats
Bartonella henselae Infection - (CSD) Cat Scratch Disease. Could cause a fever, headache, and poor appetite in people.
CDC, 2020 - https://www.cdc.gov/ healthypets/diseases/cat-scratch.html
Ripple Effects
. Can Cause Illness or Death, Resulting in Trauma for the Community.
. A Continuous Threat, Could Cause Anxiety
Up to 2 Meters +

Tadashi, 2022, Facts.net - https://facts.net/electric-eel-facts/


Lives in the Amazon River
Produce 860 Volts Electricity

02 HUMAN SCALE PROTOTYPES
Constructed designs to target One Health issues in Claverito at the family scale


BAMBOO BOTTLES BARGE
THE BAMBOO BOTTLES BARGE THE BAMBOO BOTTLES BARGE
EXISTING CONDITIONS


Injuries from Falls: ~74% of residents report falling on the floating path. Rainy weather amplifies slipping risks.
Trash Pollution: Collected from upstream, the city, and the neighborhood, this increases disease transmission and reduces the aesthetic quality of life.

PROPOSED PROTOTYPE
Bamboo: Used for increased scarcity of Topas
Safety Edge Fencing: Found in community
Twine: Tying (rope, belts, etc.) common way of securing; sealed with wax for durability
Plastic Bottles: Abundance of trash (upstream and city)
Fishing Nets: Found in community
Waterborne Pathogens: Contaminated water (particularly from fecal matter) increases prevalence of cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and polio.


1. TRASH COLLECTION
2. FRAME CONSTRUCTION
Construction does not require the use of power tools. Instead, fishmouth cuts are paired with combinations of cross joints, lateral joints, and corner joints, and bound together with clove hitch knots, square, and cross lashing.
Storage Access





Upstream collection of trash using fishing nets and Camu Camu trees during high river season, in addition to community collection during Mingas.


For a 1m pathway segment, both sides together hold ~500 plastic bottles.
3. WALKWAY


Bamboo has a tensile strength of ~60 pounds per meter. The direction of the split bamboo (perpendicular to foot traffic) and a guard rail mitigate slipping and falling risks.

Prototype on land holds >300 pounds!


Testing dead and live weight buoyancy!
Camu Camu Trees
Iquitos Claverito
MODULAR PATHS: WALKWAYS FOR HEALTH


Modular Paths: Designing Walkways for Health

Construction Harvest Trim


Shape Lash


Assemble
1. Layering bamboo gives the path more bouyancy and traction.

2. Native floating vegetation adds biodiversity and creates habitat.
3. Verticle poles lock the modular paths into one plane of motion.
4. Bamboo frames the vegetation neatly, provding a sense of order and adding aesthetic value.
5. Horizontal poles prevent the path from touching the ground in the low river season, resulting in a slower decomposition rate.
Expected Health Outcomes
Reduce Trips and Falls
Building new stable paths with better traction can help reduce trips and falls in the community. Many community members do not have access to healthcare, leaving them at risk of more extreme injuries after a fall.


Decrease Waterborne Pathogens
Floating plants absorb bacteria in the water, reducing E.coli and Cholera. Cholera levels in Claverito are at 7700 CFU/100 ml.


This is over 6,000% more than reccomended by the EPA.

Increase Biodiversity
Increased vegetation will establish habitat for more animals such as frogs, spiders, dragonflies, and butterflies.


Decrease Vector-borne Dieases
Vegetation provides habitat for mosquito predators such as frogs and dragonflies. This aids in reducing their population in the community resulting in a lower chance of people contracting vector-borne diseases.

Decrease Depression and Anxiety
The new path system will allow people to leave their homes during inclimate weather, reducing social isolation. Additionally, it will increase the safety in their community, resulting in a decrease of environmental stressors.

Leptochloa scabra Gramalote
Pistia stratiotes Huama Eichornia crassipies Putu Putu

La Primavera
Flotante

The Floating Spring
The Floating Spring

IQUITOS



The capital city of the Maynas Province and Loreto Region, and home of our prospective clients: the residents of Claverito. Locationally positioned where the ever-growing oil industry along with an accumulating amount of trash plague the bordering water of the Amazon river, the call for a One Health mindset could not be more apparent. Many communities, both amphibious and not struggle with this lack of access to potable water but nowhere is it felt more than in the floating slums that border the city itself. The pressing question then becomes, how do we change this?

WHICH ASPECTS OF HUMAN HEALTH ARE ADDRESSED?
-Any access to clean water is a highly valuable resource with numerous positive health effects


BUCKET FILTER
HORIZONTAL SUPPORT SLATS
-Parasites such as Whipworm, Tapeworm, and Giardia intestinalis are highly prevalent and are commonly contracted through access to contaminated water
-The design caters to the fluid and moving existence of the rest of the community with easy means of transportation
-With a shortened trip needed to collect water, different community members have more time to tend to other responsibilities
-With health risks such as chronic diahrea plaguing the community, the new access to cleaner water aims to better the health situation for everyone
-The materials used in the design are intended to be easily accessible for the community of Claverito, therefore, making the construction a realistic possibility
LACK OF STANDING WATER (MOSQUITOS)
SEPERATED FROM HUMAN HOUSING
ABILITY TO USE RIVER AND RAIN
INCOME (FROM LEFT OVER WATER)



VERTICAL TOWER BEAMS
TRANSFER HOSE
WATER COLLECTION JUG
WATER SPICKET
WATER PUMP
WATER PUMP MOUNT
SUPPORTED PLATFORM
TOWER FOOTPRINT STABILIZERS
STANDING DECK
FLOATATION BINS



HORIZONTAL SUPPORT SLATS



VERTICAL TOWER BEAMS



The Design
With floating platform, tower support, water collection, bucket filter, and water pump elements present within this design the detail can’t be questioned. What can and should be questioned however is the effectiveness of the design itself. As separate elements, the design would be incomplete with only fragments of what is needed by the community. It’s not until you bring them all together and position them within the community that their impact would be free to grow.




DIRTY WATER
HOME HELPER


Home Helper a kit of parts
an aid to every family

Health Benefits

Injuries/ Falls

Reduced Eel Stings
Activities Eels
Water Hazards
Sun and Rain Cleanliness
Community Formalities
Celebrations
Model overlay on an individual house - Showing scale in context

Reduced by up to 25 persons monthly using rope fence

Reduce drowning of children and elderly

Protect against by using umbrella or tarp top

Organize clothes and trash

Grid and unify homes with same start kit pole

Decorate and enjoy any holiday

Organization

Hang tools, and wires

Attach soccer net or basketball net
Mental Health

Gathering space, community engagement, unity and identity, individuality, recognition
Multiple models in community showing connections and how they work together.














Clothes
Laundry
Clamps
Twine
Ring Screw


SILLA MODULAR: MODULAR MULTIPURPOSE CHAIR

Disease
Microplastics
Habitat Loss
Foodchain Disruption

Habitat Loss
Microplastics
Foodchain Disruption
Species Loss
Disease
Microplastics
Recreational Space
Foodchain Disruption
Mental Health Impacts


03 COMMUNITY SCALE DESIGNS
Conceptual designs to target One Health issues in Claverito at the community scale


CAUGHT IN THE REEDS
Bio-Floats , Habitat , and Opportunity



WHATS THE GOAL?
This project’s main goal is to propose a possible option for solving the main problem of the sinking houses of Claverito. By focusing on subjects such as Mental health, Physical health and One health as a practice, the following culmination of information and grafics seeks to give an understanding of both the construction and installation of the design, along with an in
depth dive into the possible effects upon the community itself the design could have. With focuses ranging from habitat growth for fish and other animals within the community to Para-sympathetic responses to design, this proposal’s main goal above all else is to better the lives of those who live within and are directly affected by the community of Claverito.
FLOTATION PULLEY SYSTEM
(SISTEMA DE POLEAS DE FLOTACIÓN)

THE PULLEY SYSTEM ALLOWS FOR THE PLACMENT AND REMOVAL OF FLOATS AS NEEDED FOR DRYING
PONTOON CONSTRUCTION PROCESS (PROCESO DE CONSTRUCCIÓN DE PONTONES)





COSECHA DE LAS CAÑAS

HARVEST THE REEDS
CONSTRUYE EL MARCO
BUILD THE FRAME
INSERTAR LAS CAÑAS
INSERT THE REEDS
TOTORA GROWTH & HARVESTING (CULTIVO Y COSECHA DE TOTORA)
2,100 LBS (952.5 KG) OF WEIGHT IS DISTRUBUTED BY EACH PAIR OF BIO-FLOATS OF LAND IS REQUIRED TO SUPPLY ENOUGH REEDS FOR ONE HOUSE’S BIO-FLOATS
1466 REEDS ARE REQUIRED FOR ONE HOUSE TO HAVE A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT FOR INSTALATION 15m2

1 HECTARE WILL SUPPLY ENOUGH MATERIAL TO FLOAT 6.5 HOUSES
8 HECTARES WOULD BE REQUIRED TO SUPPLY THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY WITH SUFFICIENT REED PRODUCTION
EACH SECTION WILL BE HARVESTED WITH THE RISE AND FALL OF HIGH AND LOW RIVER SEASON

IMPLEMENTATION
1 2
BEGIN CONSTRUCTION OF FLOAT ATTATCHMENTS
IMEDIATETLY IN PREPERATION FOR USE

LOW POINTS (PUNTOS BAJOS)

PLANT THE REEDS IN FLOODPLAIN AS WATER LOWERS TO GAIN THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF GROWING TIME
HIGH POINTS (PUNTOS ALTOS) TODAY (HOY)
PLANT THE

HARVEST THE REEDS (COSECHAR LAS CAÑAS)

3 4
HARVEST THE REEDS FOR USE IN FLOAT MAKING AND DRY FOR 15-20 DAYS IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT
MAKE THE FLOATS (HACER LAS FLOTADORES)
REEDS (PLANTAR LAS CAÑAS)
FASHION DRIED REEDS INTO FLOATS READY FOR USE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE


MENTAL STRAIN / SURVIVAL MODE
(TENSIÓN MENTAL / MODO DE SUPERVIVENCIA)




WHAT DO WE DO?
Stress is often much stronger of a feeling than we give it credit for. As one of the leading causes of heart attack and stroke here in the US, its physical and longe-term effects are not to be played with. But what does it look like for the habitants of Claverito, who are living in a prolonged state of stress everyday? Effecting everything from fertility to digestion, the levels of stress we experience shape how we live. The choice then becomes how you will react.

FISH HABITAT (HÁBITAT DE PECES)



ACARAHUAZÚ

MAX LENGTH: 45.7cm FRESHWATER
PREFERS SAND AND MUD BOTTOMED CANALS


PIRAÑA
MAX LENGTH: 50cm FRESHWATER
PREFERS TO FEED AT DUSK AND DAWN
PAICHE
MAX LENGTH: 450cm FRESHWATER
OBLIGATE AIR BREATHING FISH
INCREASED HABITAT PROVIDES EASIER ACCESS TO FISHING CLOSER TO HOME


ABRAMITES
MAX LENGTH: 14cm FRESHWATER
FEEDS ON INSECTS AND PLANT MATTER
BOTH ECONOMIC AND HEALTH OPPORTUNITIES ARE HIGHTENED WITH EXTRA FISH
CAMU CAMU HEALTHSCAPE
Improving health through unexpected interactions between ecology, people, and place.
Camu camu is a small floodplain tree native to the Amazon region. Berries on the tree are highly sought after, both within the Amazon region and further abroad. Claverito currently maintains a robust and resilient camu camu patch within its community that is cared after by a few key residents. This patch of camu camu is an untapped resource that residents have the opportunity to capitalize on. Expanding the bosque, scaling up fruit production, building light landscape interventions, and introducing seasonal programming can create the basis for a thriving environment and economy.
It is estimated that roughly 120,000 people live within the urban floodplain (InterACTION Labs). Once proven to be successful, Claverito may act as a model for other floodplain communities to follow. This project explores how minimal changes to the landscape with readily available materials can eventually lead to large scale improvements in health across the city of Iquitos.



GOALS:
1. Improve the mental and physical health of residents of Claverito.
2. Increase biodiversity within Claverito to reduce vulnerability to disease and environmental disturbances.
3. Establish a self-sustaining economic system for residents to further expand.
4. Create a framework that can be scaled up for other floodplain communities.
Iquitos


CAMU CAMU BERRY

Medicinal Properties:
Antioxidative
Hypolipidemic
Antihypertensive
Antidiabetic

Camu camu berries are harvested in large baskets by boat right before the peak of the high river season.


PROCESSED CAMU CAMU




CAMU CAMU IN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE
Camu camu is widely used in traditional medicine in the Amazon region.
• Arthritis
• Diabetes
• Hypercholesterolemia
• Bronchitis
• Asthma
• Atherosclerosis
• Depression
• Flu
• Gingivitis
• Glaucoma
• Hepatitis
• Infertility
• Migraine
• Osteoporosis
• Parkinson’s disease
• Malaria


Bottled Juice Powder
Supplement Pills
Hair Mask
Face Mask
Face Serum
T.
Background photos by Gemina Garland-Lewis
Camu camu patches should be large enough to support different animals along the edges and deep within the bosque.

Healthy tree populations have the potential to produce up to 12.7 metric tons of fruit per hectare.
Productive patches are rotated every year to ensure the bosque is not over-harvested and can still provide its ecosystem services.

Legend


Existing Camu Camu Bosque
Proposed Expansion of Camu Camu Bosque
Floating Pathway
Way-finding
Harvest for Food
Harvest for Planting
Maintain Habitat
Bird Watching Tower
This subsequently doubles green space, habitat, and the amount of berries!
AERIAL VIEW OF CLAVERITO AND THE CAMU CAMU
Bosque expansion doubles the area of camu camu tress directly in the community.



PLANT
Camu camu saplings can be kept in small pots until large enough to plant in the floodplain.
Camu camu trees are tagged with colorful fabric that can be slid up and down the branches as the water rises.
The current bosque produces about 30,000 berries during a good harvest.
80 berries makes 5 gallons of camu camu juice which can then be sold in the local market.


MAINTAIN

Berries that are not harvested provide plentiful food for birds and fish.










MAINTAINING HABITAT AND ENHANCING BIODIVERSITY
1. Increased levels of biodiversity can increase the Knowledge, engagement, perception, and curiosity of nature within a community..
2. Urban biodiversity ensures the access of plants and animals to communities who practice traditional medicine. Over 80% of the world’s population uses traditional medicine as their primary form of healthcare.

3. Less biodiversity increases vulnerability to shocks and disturbances. It can also lead to the emergence of new infectious diseases.
4. Good biodiversity maintains an equilibrium between predators and prey, hosts and vectors, and parasites in plants, animals, and humans.
Amphibian fuliginosa Speckled Worm Lizard
Helicops angulatus Brown-banded water snake
Dendropsophus triangulum Triangle Treefrog
Dendropsophus haraldschultzi Many-lined Treefrog
Dendropsophus leali Plain-colored Treefrog
Coragyps atratus Black vulture
Jacana jacana Wattled jacana
Sternula superciliaris Yellow-billed tern
Psarocolius angustifrons Russet-backed oropendola
Sporophila castaneiventris Chestnut-bellied seedeater











Hemidactylus mabouia Tropical house gecko
Iguana iguana Green Iguana
Ascia monuste (Linnaeus, 1764) Great Southern White Butterfly
Eurema elathea (Cramer, 1777) Banded Yellow Butterfly
Canthon near subhyalinus Scarabaeinae Dung Beetle
Riodina lysippus (Linneaus, 1758) Neotropical Metalmark Butterfly
Prochilodus magdalenae Bouquichico
Trachinotus goodei Palometa
Cichla ocellaris Tucunaré
Prochilodus lineatus Sabalo
SEASONAL RECREATION

Way-finding poles are tall enough to be used in the high
Boat tours through the community, bosque, and surrounding floodplain communities create a steady revenue stream for community members.
Dense camu camu trees provide ample fish habitat.
river and low river seasons.





Low river season is prime for fishing
Bird-watching towers can be used in the high river and low river seasons.
Parts of the bosque completely dry out during the low river seasons. This allows people to run, walk, and relax amongst the trees.
Community member expertly leading boat tours through the camu camu bosque.
Tourist watching birds, awing at fauna, and absorbing the tropical atmosphere.
Community resident fishing to feed his family and sell in the local market down the road.
Child from the community exploring the edges of the camu camu bosque at sunset.
ANNUAL HARVEST FESTIVAL

People from all over Iquitos will come to Claverito to celebrate the bountiful harvest.
The festival will give community members a vibrant event to look forward to during the high river season.
not attract disease ridden mosquitoes.
Luminescent paint will provide way-finding in the dark.
Lanterns shaped like the camu camu blossom will float throughout the community. Pink light will create visibility after sunset but does






A tourist getting a brief taste of life on the Amazon River.
Child in the community smiling alongside his family at the festival. Excited for the high river season.
Community member selling fresh camu camu juice from the plentiful harvest.
Community member enjoying the inaugural camu camu festival after a long day of working.

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES
Camu Camu Trees
Wood Paint Boats
Small Pots
Juice Container
HEALTH IMPACT
Decrease water borne pathogens
• Floating plants absorb bacteria in the water, reducing E.coli and Cholera. Cholera levels in Claverito are at 7700 CFU/100 ml. This is over 6,000% more than recommended by the EPA.
Increase Biodiversity
• An expanded bosque doubles the habitat and resources available for animals allowing their populations to grow and thrive.
• Increased biodiversity acts as a buffer against disease, environmental disturbances, and climate change.
Increase Access to Food and Resources
• Creating a steady source of income will reduce anxiety about obtaining food and feelings shame in the way the food is obtained.
Decrease Malnutrition
• Increased incomes can help community members buy food with higher nutritional quality in higher quantity.
• A surplus of camu camu berries ensures that everyone in the community has access to the berry’s high nutritional value.
Decrease Depression and Anxiety
• Hosting a vibrant festival during the peak of the high river season can change the feelings of isolation, depression, and negativity that persist around that time of year.



Iquitos
FOOD AND MEDICINE PODS
This model has two side gardens, two chicken coops, a walkway, and a fishing hole

Section









Live)
Chicken Coop
(Google)
(Wildest Animal)
(Rain forest Cruises)
Dry Season Wet Season

Layout Wet Season


Goals
Health Food Build



Layout Dry Season

Pod garden design. Crop is harvested by boat. Eggs retrieved from raft.
Gardens and chicken coops around the soccer field. Fits back together during wet season.
Precedents and the Science Behind the Concept
Garden Study One

Both ideas can be tested and merged to see which works best
Garden Study Two


Harvest and Seeds
. Harvest by boat during wet season
. Seeds compacted into dirt balls and placed in soil for growth
. Adapted as needed to fit area



(Research Gate)
(Global Center on Adaptation)
(Bangladesh Study)
(Research Gate)
(Bangladesh Study)
(Bangladesh Study)
More Research
Historical Precedent - Aztecs

Highlights that this practice has been done for many years. It has been tried and tested by many tribes, including the Aztecs
Climate Map - Same Climate as Precedents

All of the precedents are in the same climate as Iquitos Peru
Example in India
Halfway across the world, with a different culture, these gardens still happen. It shows how important floating agriculture is to humankind.


Lake Titicaca Reed Islands Study in Peru
A recent study done in the Andes Mountain Region of Peru. Shows that floating gardens work today.




(Square space)
(GFL Floating Wetlands - Leann Andrews) - All 4
(UNDRR)
(UNDRR)
Design Adaptability
To Fit Community Needs

Bamboo Growth Timeline Alternative Material Options Hexagonal Garden Option Radial Dry Season Option Linear Option


Option that uses less materials if there is a shortage

Good for smaller spaces

Quick regrowth for a sustainable design

Wood Pallets
Recycled Tires
(Adapted from Lewisbamboo.com)
(Amazon)
(Greenball)
How the Floating Gardens are Helping with Food Security in Claverito
Will assist in feeding the community of Claverito
Selling food will assist with economic growth
The gardens will help the local ecosystem by adding vegetation and creating animal resting spots on the water
Medical gardens are present. Nutrition needs will also be helped. There is also the benefit of beauty, green space, and exercise that will come with the garden care

The people of Claverito will learn how to produce food in a new way. They will be able to teach others about responsible food consumption and ways to reduce waste
The city of Iquitos will eventually reap benefits from the gardens as well. They can use similar ideas elsewhere and build a large agricultural industry
The floating gardens can catch trash and other debris keeping it from the homes of Claverito. The goal is to clean the water with the extra water lilies
By becoming a farming community, the goal is for Claverito to gain recognition from the city and to lessen the current inequality the community faces

(Base Graphic Constructed by Ann Lai PSU Student)
One Health Benefits
Data shows the current state of Claverito is that of moderate to severe food insecurity. A problem that desperately needs a solution

Current Malnutrition Stats
Current data shows that many residents are overweight or obese. The goal is for the gardens to help bring access to healthier food.

Animal Species that Benefit From the Gardens Cant Have One Without the Other


77 bird species around Claverito Many fish swim the Amazon River


14 species of reptiles and amphibians documented around Claverito

11 Species of butterflies and beetles around Claverito
The needs of the people of Claverito is very important. These gardens will reduce hunger, will provide an economic opportunity, and will hopefully provide future opportunities with the city of Iquitos

Gardens will add biodiversity and fill in vegetation gaps in the area
Many local animal species will benefit either directly or indirectly from the presence of the floating gardens
Graphic made by Ann Lai - Penn State Student
Graphic by Parker Kingshipp - Penn State Student
Economic Benefits
Dimensioned floating garden for calculations in Meters



About 48 chickens per pod (24 in each coop)
48 eggs daily. Thats 336 eggs per week!

Varies based on type of fish. Potential for large quantities raised (100s)

Approx 42 square meters of garden space per pod
Family run food carts and stands


Collaboration with the Belen Market
Large variety of food sold

Great economic opportunists at the market
Lots of natural medicine for sale



WOMEN’S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
Claverito | Iquitos | Peru

Project Focus
The Indigenous, amphibious community of Claverito experiences extreme poverty and public neglect from the City of Iquitos, resulting in limited ability to address human health and environmental concerns (Andrews et al., 2022). Women experiencing poverty in the Loreto region, especially those of Indigenous descent, face greater barriers in accessing healthcare and economic opportunity (Shannon et al., 2017). This project aims to provide a sustainable model of income generation, so the women of Claverito can have the freedom to make decisions about the health of their community and the built environment.

Women’s OneHealth in Claverito
Poverty, Gender, and Health
ONE HEALTH ISSUES
Community members surveyed by InterACTION Labs in 2022 reported economy, access to healthcare, and support for youth amongst the top ten things that would improve the quality of life. Women in the Loreto region have less access to economy and healthcare, making them a key population for a targeted intervention (Shannon et al., 2017). (InterACTIONLabs, 2018)
- Indigenous women in the Peruvian Amazon are more disadvantaged in accessing healthcare (Shannon et al., 2017)
- Without access to healthcare, water-borne pathogens and parasitic diseases spread unregulated between humans and animals

- 5,211 pieces of solid waste, like plastic bottles were collected in June 2022 (InterACTION Labs, 2022)
- Plastic waste disrupts ecological cycles and breaks down into toxic microplastics, which poison and choke fish, people, and animals
- Trash in the community affects the mental health of residents and perpetuates harmful stereotypes
- Diet is mainly fish and whole grains
- Deficit of vegetables, grains, fats, and oils and sugar, grains, and fish intake exceeds recommendations (InterACTION, 2015)
- Previous edible garden intervention damaged by acid wash dumped on the hillside
- Women in Claverito (and globally) carry out 2.5x more unpaid labor than men, like caretaking, cleaning, and cooking (UN Women, redistribute unpaid work)
- There is little time left over for economic earning, leaving women financially dependent on partners and family members
- Peru has some of the highest global rates of gender based violence (Shannon, 2017)



Under water

(InterACTION Labs, 2018)

A large driver of health issues is polluted water quality. The community is running out of topas, or floating logs, to keep their houses afloat and out of water. Alternative solutions cannot be obtained without outside intervention or economic stimulation.


PLAZA CLAVERO
IQUITOS
Floating house





Women and Family Center
SUSTAINABLE INCOME SYSTEM
The ultimate goal of women’s economic empowerment is to enable women to make decisions (Gates Foundation). This system brings economy inside of the community, instead of outsourcing to Iquitos for day labor, as is typical for Claverito residents.



Women and Family CenterLearn and Work
The center provides a space for women to work and learn about economic empowerment and the traditional craft of weaving chambira.
Minga is a nonprofit organization based in Iquitos that runs female leadership programs, as well as handicraft training workshops.

2


4
Chambira Palm- Resource
The chambira palm (Astrocaryum chambira) is native to the Amazon rainforest and can be harvested sustainably for it’s fiber, fruit, and medicinal purposes (Larson, 2019).
Market- Profit
Chambira crafts, like baskets and bags are commonly sold in Iquitos to tourists. One article reported women making as many as 15-20 baskets/month, earning $10 each (approx. $14 today) (Guel & Penn, 2009).


RENDERED PERSPECTIVE OF FAMILY CENTER
Terraced Community Garden

- The palms of the Amazon rainforest are greatly ecology

- The chambira palm is already promoted as a method agroforestry, given its rapid growth and availability
- Women in developing countries are almost half of sustainable agricultural management, making socially viable target demographic for the chambira (Vilcarromero, 2023).

Hillside Garden (InterACTION Labs, 2016)
Chambira fibers drying
Sustainable Agroforestry
important to local method of sustainable availability the workforce them an already chambira industry



Chambira Palm Tree
Harvesting- Rule of Thirds
One study reported methods of sustainable chambira harvesting. One Indigenous woman recommended the following:
- Harvest from palms that are at least 3 years old
- Avoid palms that have 3 or less leaves yet/have been harvested from 3 times
- Leaves are ready to be harvested again after 3 months

Hillside Garden (TrACTION, 2016)




Earthwork!
Exploring the Potential of the Hillside
Settling on the Amazonian floodplain proposes a variety of health concerns, from water-borne pathogens and vector-based disease to food insecurity and mental illness. Compounded by Wicked problems like resource scarcity and the Topography of Wealth, these issues present themselves in the infrastructural conditions of Claverito as sinking houses and a degraded hillside. Embracing the topographic qualities of the neighborhood through strategic manipulation accentuates the hillside’s potential for improving the quality of life, and provides opportunities for municipal recognition.

Resource Scarcity
-unreliable source (Topas)
-preserve vernacular building approaches
Sinking Houses
-structural instability -contact with contaminated water
Topography of Wealth
-stigma from Iquitos -low elevation
Degraded Hillside
-trash dumping -erosion -underuse

Colonial
Poverty (Global South)

COMMUNITY CENTER & SEATING
HILLSIDE WATER FILTRATION
DECORATIVE PLANT NURSERY
AGROFORESTRY
FLOODED CHANNELS AND WALKWAYS
CUT AND FILL TECHNIQUE
Increased social visibility
Reduced Decomposition of Topas
PROPOSED PROGRAM AND HEALTH OUTCOMES
2
Terraced Seating - Rammed Earth Retaining Walls
Improve mental health through usability of hillside as a park
Mitigate injuries from falling on a steep slope
4 3 Formalized Water Source - Hillside Tapping
Decrease exposure to waterborne pathogens through access to potable water
Decorative Plant Nursery
Improve mental health through aesthetic beautification and financial income opportunity
5 Flooded Channels and Walkways
Agroforestry - Growing Topas and Edible Plants
Decrease food insecurity
Improve mental health through sustainable resource management
Improve mental health through potential municipal recognition
Improve overall quality of life with potential provision of utility services

Camu Camu Trees
FLOODED CHANNELS AND WALKWAYS
Construction Phases
1 - High River Season: push houses into water ~90m
2 - Low River Season: cut and fill earth
3 - High River Season: return houses to float above channels
4 - Low River Season: fill and finalize pathways Channel Wall Details

Flex Mechanically Stabilizied Earth Wall (FlexMSE, 2023)
-geobags twice as durable as concrete, 97% less GHGs in installation -high settlement tolerance
Staked Brush Mattress -further weathering control -foster riparian habitat
Preserving Topas

Separate topas from decomposing micro-organisms on the ground in order to reduce replacement Full submersion in water











Filled Earth
Topa
RAMMED EARTH RETAINING WALLS
Sustainable Construction Capacity Building
Wood cap for protection and seating
Leftover formwork for strength and emergency building supply



Sunken foundation of wall to replace concrete footing Moist earth mixture compacted with tamper Layers added, process repeated until finished
Gravel (dumped from construction)
Silt (riverbed)
Clay (existing soil)
Diseases from Contaminated Water (Boon, 2023)


From hillside tapping and collected rainwater
Wood cap for protection and seating
Erosion Control


Applications
Seating (around community center)
Pathways for walking on hillside
Planter boxes
Water filtration containers

Different water purity levels for different puposes

*May need sheltered protection from leaves, etc.
Cholera E.Coli

Calathea lancifolia

Canna sp.-achira

Cymbopogon citratus

Heliconia acuminata

Patiquina jaspeada

Spathiphyllum cannifolium


Trees for Topas

Plants for Food








Sloped for extra flood prevention
Punga Ceiba samauma
Balsa Ochroma pyramidale
Huimba Ceiba pentandra
Tomato
Bijao Banana
Papaya
Charapita Pepper
Cocona

(Em)bracing Claverito’s Hillside for Sustainable Community Health

The people of Claverito are currently facing serious immediate and long-term challenges. A scarcity of topas and other building materials is leading to sinking homes. The pollution and erosion of the nearby hillside is harming plant and animal life and threatens an eventual collapse of the plaza above, cutting off safe access to the city. While protecting the hillside from further damage is paramount for the survival of Claverito, exploring the unrealized potential of the hillside may also hold the key to community flourishing. Terracing supported first by bamboo retaining walls and then by plant life has the potential to protect the hillside from further erosion while creating space needed for the growing and harvesting of useful food, herbs, and timber.
(Villeneuve; Phyllostachys Edulis ‘Jaquith’)
DUMPING HARMS
ECOSYSTEM & BEAUTY
• Chemicals dumped on-site have killed plantings and degraded the soil.
• Litter attracts insects, and may hold water, creating breeding grounds for mosquitos.
• Litter encourages further dumping.

EROSION THREATENS
INFRASTRUCTURE & PLANT LIFE
• Loosened foundations of stairs, utility poles, and other structures reduces community safety.
• The 30% slope and absence of nutritous topsoil discourages plant growth, limiting the ecosystem’s potential.


BUILDING MATERIALS ARE NEEDED FOR REPAIRS
• A lack of topas and other building materials is causing amphibious homes to sink, threatening resident health.




RESIDENTS GROW
FOOD AND MEDICINE
• Residents are experienced gardeners who harvest nearby plants for personal use and sale.




Local Context
ACCESS TO CITY IS IMPORTANT TO RESIDENT LIVELIHOODS
• Residents sell and trade excess goods at a nearby market.

POOR DRAINAGE DAMAGES PLAZA
• Flood damage to the plaza directly uphill from Claverito increases the risk of a plaza collapse, endangering Claverito and reducing safe access to the city.

EXPOSED SOIL RISKS FURTHER EROSION
• The loss of vegetation and disassembly of community structures for home repair leaves soil unsupported.
(“Peru, Konsti”)

Health Implications
INCREASED RISK OF VECTOR OR ANIMAL BORNE
INCREASED RISK OF INJURY, ANXIETY, & DEPRESSION

Dumping Attracks Insects and Harms Plants & Animals









Rain Impact and Fast-flowing Stormwater Causes Erosion












CLAVERITO’S HILLSIDE IS STABLE AND PROTECTED FROM EROSION NOW AND IN THE FUTURE 1
• Terraces slow runoff, reducing erosion and encouraging water infiltration
• Ornamental plants discourage littering/dumping
• Intensive plantings protect and stabilize soil
Ornamental Plants & Regrading Discourage Dumping





CLAVERITO’S HILLSIDE IS PRODUCTIVE, AND SUPPORTS COMMUNITY HEALTH 2
• Increased gardening space imporoves food security and access to traditional medicines
• Fast growing bamboos and other plant species improve access to building materials for home and infrastructure repair
Increased Soil Protection and Water Infiltration
ExistingSlope(avg.30%)





BLOOMING PLANTS DETER
DUMPING/LITTERING
• The installation of ornamental plants on Claverito’s hillside in 2015 led to lower rates of littering in the following months.

TERRACING SLOWS RUNOFF, REDUCING EROSION
• Steep slopes cause runoff to flow quickly, picking up soil and taking it downhill.
• Terracing creates nearly flat sections of earth about 3 meters deep that periodically slow water, allowing it to be absorbed into the ground.

BAMBOO & OTHER TIMBER INCREASE ACCESS TO BUILDING MATERIALS
• Fast-growing, strong, and buoyant materials like bamboo and balsa grown on the hillside make building materials readily available for home and infrastructure repair.


NEWEXISTINGHIGHRIVERLINE HIGHRIVERLINE
COVERED WORKSPACE ALLOWS FOR MATERIAL PROCESSING & STORAGE
• A covered workspace allows harvested materials to be treated and processed for greater durability.

(Astley)
(“Bamboo Treatement”)
(“Phyllostachys Edulis”)
(Tardio)
(Kuikel)


FORMAL GARDEN SPACE SUPPORTS HEALTH
• Plants grown on-site creates a reliable source of food and medicine.

STORMDRAINS REDIRECT RUNOFF, REDUCING EROSION
• A stormdrain installed in the flooding portion of the plaza will prevent further erosion beneath the plaza’s foundation.
(“Walkways”)

PLANT ROOTS AND RHIZOMES
HOLD SOIL IN PLACE, REDUCING EROSION
• Plants well suited for erosion control like vetiver, bamboo, and paspalum, protect the soil from becoming disturbed and hold it in place.
(Ramos-Arcos)
A. KUKA
KEY PLANT
SPECIES
Key Plant Species


Parakeet Flower
Heliconia psittacorum
• Vibrant ornamental
• Rhizome spread
• Wind-pollinated
‘Tropical Lalo’ Paspalum Paspalum hieronymii
• Low-growing,
• Low-maintenance
• Dense, Resilient Grass
ONCONTROL


Chrysopogon zizanioides
• Fiberous roots extend up to 4m deep within 1 year.
• Root oil used as natural insect repellent
• Dried leaves and roots used in crafts and construction

Ficus Tree
Ficus guianensis
• Extensive root system
• Latex used to treat abdominal pain
WELLNESS


Capsicum chinense
• #1 most grown plant in Claverito’s floating gardens
• Variety of medicinal uses
• Especially profitable

Balsa Tree
Ochroma pyramidale
• Among the lightest known timbers
• Traditonally used in raft construction

Giant Bamboo
Dendrocalamus giganteus
• Culms grow up to 30cm in diameter

• New shoots grow up to 30cm/day

Colombian Timber Bamboo Guadua angustifolia
• Strongest known bamboo species
• Rhizomes spread up to 2.5m and roots extend up to 2.5m deep
BUILDINGMATERIAL

Orégano Origanum vulgare
• #2 most grown plant in Claverito’s floating gardens
• Variety of medicinal uses
Vetiver
Ají charapita
(“Origanum”)
(Astley)
(“Ficus”)
(Absolute)
(“Mudas”)
(“Guadua”)
(“Vetiver”)
(“Capsicum”)
(Joy and Rotar)
(Schroder)
(Schroder)




Phases 1-6: Terraces are constructed using bamboo crib-walls in phases beginning at the bottom of the hillside. Live clippings are planted in the top and face of the wall.



Phase 7: The bamboo crib-walls begin to decompose while plants grow.
CONSTRUCTION


Phase 8: Within 2 years of being built, the bamboo crib-walls fully decompose. Plant roots hold soil in place in perpituity.
Terraces can be constructed in sections as materials become available. Bamboo grown on earlier sections can be used to construct later sections.






GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ‘ONE HEALTH ISSUES’
Reduce the cases of mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, zika virus, and malaria among the residents of Claverito by suppressing local mosquito population.
Support the livelihood, safety, and well-being of the residents of Claverito through relevant and inclusive landscape strategies.
Establish a balanced ecosystem that will support animal lives such as dragonflies, bats, birds, and frogs, and potentially control the population of other vectors of diseases.
Seasonal dragonfly ponds, scattered lily pads, and necessary vegetation that will support the life cycle of dragonflies.
A floating bamboo pier that can be used by outsiders to dock their boats for a fee and enhanced walkways with rope railings for safety and ease of circulation among all types of people.
Scattered camu-camu trees that will utilize fecal matter as fertilizer to grow fruit for the residents and serve as habitats for birds and bats.
Batboxes that will support mosquito-eating bats especially at nighttime.
FLORA LIST AND THEIR SEASONALITY IN CLAVERITO






Nymphaea ‘Water lily’
Myrciariadubia‘Camu camu’
Pontederiacrassipes‘Water hyacinth’
Victoriaamazonica‘Amazon water lily’
Irispseudacorus‘Yellow iris’
Typhalatifolia‘Cattail’
FAUNA AND THEIR HABITATS IN CLAVERITO






Bats
Birds
Frogs
Dragonflies
Damselflies
Fish
HILLSIDE
CAMU CAMU WALK
BATBOXES
DRAGONFLY HABITAT REQUIREMENTS IN CLAVERITO
AND THE DRAGONFLY LIFE CYCLE

Clean water with substantial amounts of sunlight that will enable female dragonflies to lay their eggs and suppress mosquito larvae.
Plants that filter water contaminants and support the life cycle of dragonflies from mating to the time the emerging dragonflies shed their exoskeleton to fly away.
Lily pads and plants with blooms to attract dragonflies.
Wood and rocks for dragonflies to nest on.





Bamboo edge that can be used as a planter edge to grow vegetables or other plants. 1 2 3 4 5 EGG NYMPH MOLT DRAGONFLY

DRY RIVER SEASON
Bamboo edge that will float, shape the water area, and keep the water hyacinths out of the water area during the high flooding season.



HIGH FLOODING SEASON
DID YOU KNOW?
Mosquitoes are an important component of a dragonfly’s diet. According to a study conducted at a research farm of the University of Ghana, dragonflies can dominate a mosquito-populated site especially if it’s not in a shady area. Sunlight is a crucial part of a dragonfly’s habitat (Acquah-Lamptey and Brandl, 2018).
Bamboo pathway




Mosquito-borne
Dragonfly Pond
Edible Garden (Dry Season)
Camu camu walk
Floating bamboo pier
Social Space (Dry Season)







CAMU CAMU WALK
Lily pad corridor connected to the nearby water areas for dragonflies to utilize during the dry river season.

Existing Camu camu thicket to remain and serve as additional habitats for birds.
Floating bamboo pier where non-Claverito residents can dock their boats for a fee.
Rope railings are incorporated on the walkways for safety.
Victoria amazonica
Batboxes for bats that feed on mosquitoes especially at nighttime.

ISOMETRIC VIEW OF THE PROPOSED DESIGN
DRY RIVER SEASON PERSPECTIVES
During the dry river season, the pier can be used as an extra space for events and parties.


The dragonfly pond area can be used as a space to cultivate vegetables or other plants during the dry river season.

EDIBLE GARDEN
BAMBOO PIER IN DRY SEASON

THE PLASTIC PROGRAM
The amphibious community of Claverito has a trash accumulation problem. The current from the river brings plastic waste into the community and this has a toll on the community. This project aims to use this material in new ways to clean the community and provide the residents with a new construction material and revenue streams.
The plastics cycle in Claverito begins when the a bottle is tossed into the river or community.



The plastic breaks down while in the water and forms microplastics. These are then absorbed or consumed by the wildlife

ONE HEALTH
THESE PLASTICS AFFECT THE PLANTS, ANIMALS, AND HUMANS INVOLVED


The cycle is complete when the community members throw plastic back into the water.








The human population then ingests the wildlife and all the toxins within.
INFLAMMATION
HEART DISEASE, BOWEL DISEASE, RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
CELLULAR DAMAGE
DNA MUTATIONS, CANCER, IMPAIRED METABOLISM
CHRONIC DISEASES
CANCER, DIABETES, CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE



SOLID WASTE IN CLAVERITO
PLASTIC BAGS
BURIED PLASTICS
FOAM PLASTICS

OTHERS
PLASTIC BOTTLES

Almost half of the waste in Claverito is clasified as plastic bottles. The second largest category, ‘Others’, contains materials like metals, clothes, and construction materials. Even when cleaned, the community still gathers a large amount of plastics in the water.
RECYCLING PLASTIC
The plan to combat this abundance of plastic in the community is to create a recycling center. This recycling center is a place where the community can gather, sort, crush, and melt the plastic found in their waters. This program uses community labor, partnerships, and innovative recycling practices.



COLLECTION
The first step is for the community to collect plastic in their communtiy. This is already seen in their occasional Mingas.
BINS
The collection bins are then moved to the recycling center where the bottles can be sorted, washed and chopped.
The plastic is placed in the collection bins located throughout the community. When full, these bins are taken to the recycling center


SHREDS
Bottles are cleaned and sorted at the recycling center before being shredded. Plastics are sold in shreds, and it conserves more space. Before shredding the bottles need to be separated.



This project proposes a partnership with LOOP, a group out of Lima Peru that is promoting the collection and reuse of plastic waste. They use plastic waste to create products to sell that also promote an awareness of the rising levels of plastics in the oceans. This partnership could include educational sessions, economic connections, and
USE


The chopped clear plastic is valued higher than colored plastic so this is packaged to be sold. Sold through a partnership with LOOP. The chopped colored plastics can either be packaged and sold, or placed in the parabolic mirror and melted.


REPURPOSING

The melted plastic can then be used for injection molding of construction materials for the community or products to sell.

The community can use a parabolic mirror heating system to melt the plastic without releasing toxic chemicals. This process was developed by FLIPFLOPI working in Kenya to create a traditionaly designed boat constructed out of recycled plastics. The mirror uses the power of the sun to heat a metal tube filled with the plastic shards. The melted plastic can then be injected into molds of items to sell at markets or construction materials to use in the community.

COMMUNITY BENEFITS
EDUCATION
Some of the best benefits that this plan brings to the community is the partnerships with thirdparty groups. Both LOOP and FLIPFLOPI are great sources of knowledge on new techniques for recycling plastics in innovative ways. This knowledge is something that the community of Claverito can benefit from greatly.





HEALTH
The removal of plastic from the community will have great impacts on the health of the community. A lot of diseases fester in contaminated and polluted water so it is important to keep the space clean. Removing plastics will decrease the amount of longterm and dangerous illnesses in the community.
ECONOMY
New streams of revenue are created by the sale of chopped clear plastic and reformed colored plastic merchandise. The revenue from these sources will be used to improve infrastructure in the community on a needed basis.

COMMUNITY SPACE
When the recycling center is not actively being used the space can be cleared for community gathering events. This could include community meetings, large construction projects, celebrations, and educational events. This can be a valuable space during the high river season when usable space is limited.
04 REFERENCES
01 Health Context
Animal Bites and Chronic Disease Risk
InterACTION Labs, Research APR 2017, FEB 2018, JUL, 2018 Claverito
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03 Community Scale Designs
Images of Claverito
Gemina Garland-Lewis
All unspecificied are credited to InterACTION Labs
Food and Medicine Pods
Casimir, Michael J. Floating Economies. Berghahn Books, 2021.
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Camu Camu Healthscape
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Women’s Economic Empowerment
Adith Izaguirre Vilcarromero, E. (2023). To what extent do initiatives to formalize the commercial production of Astrocaryum chambira for handicrafts empower Indigenous women? A comparative analysis in communities with more and less external intervention.
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Guel, A., & Penn, J. (2009). Use of the chambira palm (Astrocaryum chambira) in rainforest communities of the Peruvian Amazon. https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/sss/20/?utm_source=scholarworks.gvsu. edu%2Fsss%2F20&utm_medium=PDF&utm_campaign=PDFCoverPages
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(Em)bracing Claverito’s Hillside Sustainable Community Health
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Afterward
Dr. Stephen Mainzer
Assistant Professor, Landscape Architecture
E+D (Ecology Plus Design)
PI, One Health Scholars Program
Pennsylvania State University
Eighty years ago, Kurt Lewin was among the first advocates that “research that produces nothing but books will not suffice.” To do better requires that researchers engage with the people affected by the problem. We have learned much since that call. Gaps in knowledge between those affected and the so-called experts, mixed values, and divergent perspectives have resulted in the most challenging environmental problems with dramatic and immediate threats to human health. Transdisciplinary education is a way forward in preparing students to engage in such challenges. Yet from early education to undergraduate and graduate degree-granting programs, such calls for change have largely gone unheeded.
The Design Activism Studio: Designing for One Health in the Amphibious Informal Community of Claverito, Iquitos, Peru , led by Dr. Leann Andrews and the One Health Scholars, is a model of transdisciplinary education. Her team of undergraduate designers engaged with experts from outside of their field, testing early ideas in the safe spaces of their studio, before evolving their understandings alongside local knowledge experts while living in the affected place. In my experience, such immersive experiences are not common in undergraduate or even graduate design education. During a debrief of the studio, a One Health Scholar shared that at the beginning of the course, they rightly assumed their role was to lead by sharing their expertise with the designers. By the end of the course, they felt that they had shifted roles to supporting an unfamiliar design process. Within the shared space and time of the studio, the student was both an expert and a novice. A social science researcher and a designer. A creator of public health policy and built environments. That transition was a powerful learning moment. I imagine each student could have shared their own transformational moment of ceasing to see themselves as or, toward the pluralistic possibilities of and.
The studio could not have happened without the countless hours of thought, organization, and coordination of Dr. Andrews, the One Health Scholars, and the students. Or without the administrative support and funding of the Institutes of Energy and the Environment, the Hamer Center for Community Design, and the Department of Landscape Architecture in the Stuckeman School at Penn State.
The irony of including this afterword in a book is not lost on me. The ideas developed in concert with the people of Iquitos and captured here are valuable ways forward for the community of Claverito and likely many others. However, the book is also an artifact of a process: a proof-of-concept for undergraduate and graduate transdisciplinary design education. I suspect as this model serves as the new standard for studio learning in our program or elsewhere, then it has produced something that more than suffices.
