The Whole Process.
20 de Diciembre Sports Club
The project aims to boost the process of inclusion for children in one of the areas with the highest crime rates in the outskirts of Buenos Aires. It serves as a safe and supportive space for children after school.
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Rafael Castillo, La Matanza, Buenos Aires. Argentina. | ARG 06 | |
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250 mts.2 |  |
Started: April 1, 2021. |
| Phase | Phase 1 in use.. | Type | Community facilities. |
| Target Group | Children. | Partner | Pamigos, Estudio A77, University Buenos Aires. |
| Client | Club Social y deportivo Maria Angelica. | Donor | eQuality Foundation. |
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Sourcing local materials. | ||
1. Observe.
Why, context, challenge.
Community, Urgency and Opportunity
The project originated from an urgent need: to provide children and young people in Rafael Castillo, La Matanza, with a safe space within a context marked by violence, urban neglect, substance abuse, and a lack of opportunities. Club Deportivo 20 de Diciembre, founded by Felipe Lesme and Norma Morinigo, emerged as a community initiative capable of transforming sports into a tool for inclusion, support, and learning.
Building Community Through Support
Since 2016, the Pamigos Foundation has supported this process through sports equipment donations, financial assistance, and basic infrastructure improvements. However, as activities continued to grow, new spatial and organizational needs became evident. The neighborhood, developed informally and without urban planning, found in the club a vital social and community meeting point.
From Informal Space to Community Infrastructure: The challenge was to consolidate this space as an active center for sports, education, and collective life, capable of responding to both present and future needs. To achieve this, it was necessary to develop an integral architectural project that respected the identity of the place, strengthened the existing infrastructure, and could be built progressively alongside the community.
2. Identify.
Who, target, user, facts.
161
161 active players regularly participate in the club’s sports activities.
49
• 49 girls and teenagers are part of the football and futsal teams.
23
• 23 sports teams train and compete weekly across different categories.
3. Approach.
How, strategy, interact
Collective Process and Participatory Design
The project was developed through a collaborative process involving Pamigos, Taller a77 from the University of Buenos Aires, and Arkitekter Uten Grenser Norge (AUG). During 2021, amid the pandemic, an academic and community-based initiative was carried out through active listening and local participation.Together with Felipe Lesme and Norma Morinigo, the team defined a program integrating sports, educational, and social activities. Ninety architecture students developed twenty collaborative architectural proposals.Eight finalist projects were presented to the community, which actively participated in the selection process. The final proposal combined ideas from different projects, promoting a flexible design based on self-construction, resource efficiency, and phased development.
4. Design.
Programmering, development, co-create.
Open Infrastructure for Community Growth
The selected architectural proposal envisions Club 20 de Diciembre as an open community infrastructure capable of integrating sports, education, and social gathering within a single spatial system.The development is organized in progressive stages. The first stage consolidates the sports field and its boundaries, strengthening the club’s basic structure while preserving the identity built by the community over the years.
The construction: The proposal prioritizes simple construction solutions that are quick to assemble and compatible with community self-construction processes. The project is currently still under development. Through a new workshop led by Taller a77, a semi-covered space with bleachers for the auditorium will be incorporated, expanding opportunities for gathering, learning, and cultural activities for the entire neighborhood.
5. Implement.
Work in the field.
At AUG, we uphold the highest standards of integrity. We prevent dishonesty, corruption, and misconduct in all operations. Every donation is used responsibly to support communities, always impartially, without favoring any political party or religion
Site visit by architects
04/21
A77 architects students on board
07/21
Drawing Design
09/21
Budget & Founding
01/22
CONSTRUCTION start STAGE 1
11/22
CONSTRUCTION STAGE 1 COMPLETED
02/25
Who participate
Quique Bayarri Sabariego
Architect - Project Achitect - quique@augnorge.org
Quique Bayarri holds a degree in architecture from the Universitat Politècnica de València, with additional studies in Delft, Madrid, and Granada. Quique has extensive and solid experience at Norwegian architectural firms, ranging from concept development to the execution phase of both residential and office buildings. He has been collaborating with Architects Without Borders Norway (AUG) since 2017 and has been a board member since 2018. He is equally dedicated to finding the best concept for a project as he is to its expression through detailed construction work. With a particular interest in sustainable architecture and construction techniques, he firmly believes that architecture must be influenced by the place where it is built and designed with a primary focus on the users. Quique uses photography as an active tool to explore architecture and the reality around us.
Paola Bornaschella
Architect - Design Director - paola@augnorge.org
Paola holds a master’s degree in architecture from the Faculty of Architecture, Design, and Urbanism at the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina. Paola has a solid experience in architectural design across all phases and scales—from small private buildings to large, complex projects such as masterplans, healthcare facilities, and multifunctional buildings. Paola is a founder, the current design director, and board member of AUG. She is passionate about social architecture. Guided by the belief that architecture is a powerful tool for social change, she advocates for inclusive design that fosters safety, dignity, and equal opportunity—especially in communities where it's needed most.
Melina Cauchich
Architect - Local Architect - melina@augnorge.org
Melina Cauchich is an architect with complementary training in Fine Arts and extensive experience in planning and executing civil works, gained through more than ten years of work in architectural firms and the infrastructure department of a multinational company. Since 2016, she has been part of Architects Without Borders, playing a key role as a liaison between local communities in Argentina and the team of architects in Norway (AUG). Her work focuses on identifying needs, developing comprehensive projects, and supporting their implementation—always prioritizing collaboration and a positive social impact in favor of sustainable and inclusive architecture.
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