Sindy Gabriela Almendarez Motta

My reasoning for this project was to combine my interests in trying to live a ‘green life’ or at least be conscious of my surroundings and help lessen the lack of creative leisure in the city.

BASUrita, a play on the Spanish word ‘basura’ (garbage) and (ita) a diminutive feminine word ending, is a community re-workshop space that aims to promote recycling or “reworking” materials in creative ways to reduce the amount of basura going into landfill. Paper, plastic, glass, and textiles’ by-products dictate the space’s quirky interior design outcome, such as the larger-than-life interactive cone, test tube display, modifiable size rooms aided by floor-to-ceiling curtains, and room dividers. The idea is to bring life to a derelict, former industrial area of the city and offer a welcome mat to the Meadow Mill resident artists and their guests, as BASUrita only utilises the ground and first floors of the Meadow Mill building.

Adding a reception and clear signage helps visitors navigate the building, while the scale and interactivity of the objects within encourage curiosity and exploration.  The cafe or ‘refresh’ area and back garden offer the opportunity to hold events at BASUrita to showcase the art made by community members or resident artists. It aims to be an infinite creative pool, accessible for all to swim.