Lillian CASAZZA Portfolio

cacibajagua

Project Details

Cornell university department of architecture
b.arch second year, FALL 2024
Arch 2101: DESIGN III Architectural Interfaces
iNSTRUCTOR: Val Warke

This is part 3/3 of a continuous project from architectural interfaces.
What is a found object? What defines conservation? How can architecture sustain community and ecosystem alike? Situated in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, this project explores the intersection of bat conservation, sustainable guano harvesting, and Indigenous narratives—transforming architecture into a medium for education, ecological stewardship, and communal dialogue.

Problem III: Sighting Communal SitesWhat is a found object?

This site is situated in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. It is based on lighthouse ruins, the old Base Ramey, and next to some of the most popular beaches for surfing. This region in particular is considered data deficient. Puerto Rico has very few native specicies, including bats, specifically fruit bats. Although deemed least priority by the IUCN’s endangered list, being one of the island’s few native species it is important to protect them for the ecosystem. They are vital seed dispersers, pollinators, and pest control, however they are one of the most underappreciated animals, with harmful myths and folklore surrounding them. There is a need for research in this area, and a need for eduation and awareness about bats.

What is a found object?

An object is a material thing that can be seen and touched,
and everything that is known to us has been found.

So what is a found object?
Is the ocean a found object?
Just as the ruins are a found object?
Just as the tractor seat in the Mezzadro chair is a found object?

Found objects lie on a spectrum
from natural to manufactured.

Material is ever changing,
and so is their position on this gradient.

The ruins, once dirt,
found by man and constructed into masonry,
now returning to its natural state.

What is a found object?

The community’s solution to the need for education, awarness, and reserach on bats is Cacibajagua, a bat conservatory housing researchers, conservationists, museum workers, and other staff. A family of architecture conceived from the original bat tower, dots through the rainforest along pre-existing pathways and along the tree lines. All buildings at 20 feet tall to mark the original contours of the land. These indexes of progress reflect the core value of the community which can be seen at the top of the hill at the sacred tower. Each year yields more progress to preservation and conservation, in terms of bats, their habitats, and our environment, and can be visually seen and understood through archtiecture.