Nicole Neighborhood Masterplan

A masterplan for 90 incremental houses, shared gardens for crops, and essential support facilities that enhances the neighborhood's flow and cohesion, while offering the flexibility to cultivate its unique identity.

place Virrey del Pino. La Matanza, Buenos Aires, Argentina. ARG 002
Surface 48,100 mts.2 Date Finished:
March 1, 2019.
Phase Delivered. Type Urbanism.
Target Group Emerging communities. Partner -
Client Asociación Civil 26 de Julio. Donor -
Tecnology Strenghtening community efforts, eco-planning.

1. Observe.

Why, context, challenge.

Origins of the Neighborhood

Nicole Neighborhood, in Virrey del Pino, emerged in the late 1990s as the result of a collective land occupation driven by the urgent need to access adequate housing. Since then, the community has developed its own urbanization process through self-management, collective work, and neighborhood organization, consolidating a strong sense of belonging and territorial identity.

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Collective Urban Development

In a territory historically marked by precarious conditions and a lack of infrastructure, residents have driven significant urban and social improvements. The introduction of a school, a health center, water networks, and public transport became possible through community organization and the support of social actors committed to the neighborhood’s development.

Present Challenges and Future Opportunities

Today, with a young and growing population, the neighborhood continues to face challenges related to housing access and habitat quality. At the same time, it maintains a strong capacity for collective transformation. The project emerges as an opportunity to support this ongoing process, understanding housing not only as shelter, but as a tool to strengthen community, identity, and long-term territorial permanence.

2. Identify.

Who, target, user, facts.

Surface

76%

Approximate current population: 6,000 inhabitants General poverty (CBT): 76%

Surface

23%

Overcrowding: 23% (2013).

Surface

59%

59% is the population is under 25 years old.

4. Design.

Programmering, development, co-create.

The masterplan proposes the construction of 90 housing units designed for families of four, with the possibility of future expansion. Each unit includes basic kitchen and sanitary cores, private patios, and a direct relationship with shared spaces that encourage everyday interaction between neighbors.

Shared Spaces and Community Integration

The project layout responds to a pre-existing electrical line crossing the site, which conditions the spatial organization of the development. From this infrastructure, housing clusters are formed and articulated by communal open spaces where urban gardens, play areas, and collective gathering spaces are integrated.The project also includes a multi-purpose community hall, recreational areas, and sports facilities with courts, a swimming pool, and covered spaces, consolidating a community infrastructure designed to support the social, cultural, and recreational development of the neighborhood.

Meeting with the community organization.
05/16
Visit site
06/16
Drawing
09/16
First project presentation
11/16
Final project presentation
03/17

Who participate

Quique Bayarri Sabariego

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

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.
Nerina Gomez

Nerina Gomez

Architect
Melina Cauchich

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.
Walter Bosisio

Walter Bosisio

Sociologist
Isabel Lopez Ruiz

Isabel Lopez Ruiz

Architect - isabel@grape.no
Isabel Ruiz is an architect from Spain, based in Oslo since 2009. Her Mediterranean background has shaped a strong interest in public life, urban culture, and the role of inclusive spaces in creating meaningful everyday environments. She holds a Master's degree in Architecture and Urbanism from the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, complemented by a postmaster in mapping and advanced training in analytical tools such as ArcGIS.Her work focuses on the intersection between social sustainability, feminist architecture, and urban development. Isabel is particularly interested in how design processes can amplify diverse voices and address inequalities in the built environment. Through her involvement with Architects Without Borders, she contributed to a project in Ethiopia, where participatory methods and local knowledge were central to the design approach.Isabel combines research, analysis, and practice to develop strategies that prioritize care, inclusion, and lived experience. She is also co-founder and chair of InnoArch, promoting innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration in architecture.

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