Journey of the bean : a community integrated coffee processing centre

Coffee in Colombia is a symbol of pride and national identity. As the third highest in coffee production in the world, the industry is a quintessential element in shaping the country’s cultural landscape. In 2011, areas in the country were established as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and now called the Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia. However, one-tenth of the country is affected by internal displacement, an intricate dynamic initiated by the armed conflict, involving political instability, guerrilla movements, and the infamous illegal drug cartels. The country’s rich heritage is tainted by this social issue. International agencies have provided sustainable frameworks on how to integrate the internally displaced people with the local community; one framework is through the provision of livelihood and access to employment. Journey of the bean utilises coffee production to provide a solution to this social issue. It seeks to answer the question of how a coffee processing plant and training facility can be designed within the Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia so that it socially engages and integrates locally displaced persons. The project provides an architectural expression that explores an intimate connection to the natural landscape and the architecture of the region for the purposed reconciliation and integration into the context