Zafra: A seasonal period for harvesting or fishing.

The Zafra* in Rocha tells a story spanning generations, a tradition deeply rooted in the community. The traps used to catch shrimp not only serve their purpose but also reflect the lives of the fishermen and establish a vital connection with the lagoon. This installation aims to convey the essence of this place and how the nets have the power to build community while maintaining a relationship with the environment.

This pavilion seeks to synthesize its essential characteristics by respecting the natural topography while standing out as a distinctive feature in the landscape. Its design connects with the lagoon through its materiality and lighting, reflecting the fishermen’s work. The structure forms a sequence of ephemeral spaces that create a journey, wrapped in a translucent mesh that is occasionally perforated to offer clear views of the surrounding natural environment.

“It all consists of drawing them to the light, with lanterns placed at the end of a trap, through tube-shaped nets made with metal rings. Dazzled by the lanterns’ lights, the shrimp become trapped there. This technique, along with the fishermen who gather during the zafra*, transforms the place into a charming site. The lagoon becomes what looks like a small illuminated city on a vast mirror of water.” (Account from a local about fishing in the Laguna de Rocha 2022)

As a communication tool, an audiovisual piece was developed to conceptually narrate the processes involved in this work.