AYAH MAHMOUD
COMMUNITY GARDEN
While interning as an Urban Designer for Fazendinhando, I designed a sustainable and accessible garden for the local community hospital in Jardim Colombo, a communidade in São Paulo, Brazil. The community garden was made as a space for healing, collaboration, and mutual aid, providing fresh produce in a food desert to over 500+ families.
RESEARCH AND IDEATION
In my initial stages of research, I focused on three issues important to the community:
WATER: The closest water source was a hose attached to the nearby hospital, which didn't reach the garden with ease. Watering current plants was extremely laborious for members.
SUSTAINABILITY: Researching durable, easily recyclable materials was essential, as community members sought to create more sustainable favela spaces while minimizing their contribution to growing waste challenges.
ACCESSIBILITY: Both local hospital patients and community members of all ages and abilities participate in the gardening projects, making it crucial to research accessible furniture, including varied seating and hand grips, to accommodate different mobility levels.
ORIGINAL LAYOUT
Through discussions with the community and its organizers, I gained a clear understanding of their needs and preferences. Members were pleased with the original spatial layout of the garden but desired more structure, including specific areas such as a compost station and a large gathering space for produce collection and task organization. Additionally, I proposed incorporating seating areas for breaks throughout the work day, floral beds for the few flower enthusiasts, and a dedicated space for gardening tools and storage. We also discussed aesthetic preferences, with the group expressing a strong appreciation for a combination of natural materials and vibrant, uplifting colors.
DESIGNED LAYOUT
FURNITURE DESIGN
ACCESSIBLE PLANTER vers.1
ACCESSIBLE PLANTER vers.2
LARGE MEETING TABLE
COMPOST BIN
STORAGE BOX
TOOL RACK
ENTRANCE ARCH
WATERING CAN STAND
TECHNICAL DRAWINGS
Drawings include a page of overall measurements, list of parts diagram, and expanded areal, side, and frontal views for fabrication. Created using Fusion 360.
FINAL LAYOUT
Used Google Earth imaging to find the dimensions of the space, then transferred data to Rhino 7 and used CAD to make the layout.
Imported all designed elements and sized, separated elements by color, and imported document into Adobe Photoshop to create a final version for visual use.
final layout
ABOUT
Fazendinhando is an NGO based in Jardim Colombo, one of the biggest favelas in São Paulo, Brazil, focused on making an educational, social, and physical difference in the community. It’s made for and by community members. They have urban development projects, such as the creation of 3rd spaces (playgrounds, parks, and gardens), and renovations of homes, ranging from tiny homes to apartment complexes to counteract housing inequality issues in the area.
