ABOUT THE CASA

Casa de Abuela is a creative placemaking installation created to connect with the Latino residents living in the Point neighborhood and beyond in a deep and immersive way. As a hand-built replica of a typical Dominican country house, the casa offers PUAM an innovative opportunity to engage the community. By converting a former parking lot into a community hub for events like our Night Market (Mercado de noche) and Cafecito con pan. At la casa, Latino residents can reflect upon their roots through storytelling, partake in cultural celebrations, while sharing this experience with visitors.

The design of our Casa de Abuela is four walls built with palm wood harvested in the Dominican Republic, corrugated tin roof panels, and operable shutter-style wood windows; all known elements in a real, life-size Dominican country house. The four rooms hold furniture and trinkets on loan from 18 Dominican Abuelas we interviewed in Bonao, Loma Blanco, and Santiago de los Caballeros, DR. Each room reflects the lives and stories from our Dominican grandmothers. 

A small window and chalkboard recreates the convenience store element in which Abuelas sold what they harvested or grew on their properties, i.e., bags of ice, eggs, café, tobacco or chicharrones. Throughout the year, PUAM will host simple cultural events  to deepen this experience for residents and visitors.