EL SOLÁRIUM: REDEFINING COMMUNITY ENERGY

El Solárium challenged the traditional implementation of a microgrid field and renewable energy generation in a site-specific, community-based program and design that embodies the resiliency and passion of the Culebra, Puerto Rico. Inspired by the concept of a solarium–a room that permits abundant daylight and views of the landscape while providing shelter from the elements–this project celebrates stories told by the indigenous Taíno people of Puerto Rico who were born from the Sun; a source of life, growth, energy and longevity.

In September 2017, Hurricanes Irma and Maria ravished Puerto Rico, leaving the island of Culebra without energy infrastructure for two years. As of April 2020, efforts to autonomize Culebra’s power system were moving forward thanks to a $5 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Fundación Comunitaria de Puerto Rico (FCPR). Working in parallel with the development of this new opportunity, El Solárium prioritized solar photovoltaic (PV) installation for essential, critical infrastructure sites, CBOs, and businesses. In addition, this project considered the design of disaster-resilient solar PV structures that could serve as communal havens, providing necessary public space that flexibly caters to its immediate neighbors. Community integration with energy production, distribution, education, management, and maintenance–while engaging local residents and tourists alike–are integral components of this project. As Culebra aims to become the first solar-powered island in the Caribbean and the Americas, El Solárium challenges the narrative of true community-based, renewable energy systems.

This joint architecture and urban planning project utilized a mixed-methods approach that included an island-wide site evaluation and analysis, an extensive literature review of community energy policies, programs and design concepts, interviews with key stakeholders and a youth engagement activity.

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