2119_EL HIGUERAL
Memorial Site
- Location :
- El Higueral, Chalatenango, El Salvador
- Team :
- AgwA + Evelia Macal
Harold Fallon, Thomas Montulet, Nomundari Munkhbaatar, Georgi Dimitrov
Structural Design : contributed by Greisch - Category :
- Ongoing
DONATE (through KU Leuven - tax exemption in Belgium)
El Higueral: Massacre and Repopulation
On February 14th, 1981, the Armed Forces of El Salvador and paramilitary groups massacred hundreds of civilians in El Higueral, Chalatenango, El Salvador. Among the victims were many women, children, and elderly people who were seeking refuge from the military repression and scorched earth operations in the region. To this day, the massacre has not been acknowledged or investigated by the Salvadoran government. Estimates of the number of victims vary widely, from 200 to 500—some survivors mention that over 1,000 people had reached El Higueral when the massacre was perpetrated. Following the massacre, the civilian population was displaced in the region, continuing the constant flight from military operations, within El Salvador and sometimes even abroad. In 1988, El Higueral was gradually repopulated, despite the ongoing civil war and harsh military repression, in a movement of hope and resistance.
From Massacre to Commemoration
The annual commemorations in El Higueral, part of the memorial design project, focus on two key events: the massacre of February 1981 and the repopulation beginning in March 1988, despite ongoing government repression.
The 1981 massacre is tied to the internal migration of people fleeing military operations during the armed conflict. Seeking safety in numbers, groups, known as “guindas,” fled toward rivers, only to be attacked. Survivors recall the army's use of scorched-earth tactics, aiming to eradicate civilians who might support the guerrillas. Near a river, a bomb claimed many lives, making the river a symbolic site of commemoration.
In 1988, survivors returned to repopulate El Higueral, an act of symbolic resistance. However, even after the Peace Accords of 1992, the military continued to harass civilians with violence, detentions, and bombings until the Peace Agreements in 1992, and up until 1996. A tragic element of the massacre was the abduction of children, later sold illegally for adoption abroad. This led to the formation of the Pro-Búsqueda organization, dedicated to reuniting families and seeking justice.
The memorial aims to honor the victims, recognize their resistance, and create a space for reflection and community empowerment, where locals can feel represented and connected to their cultural heritage.
Introduction to the Project
In April 2022, the community of El Higueral and the Asociación Sumpul organized a participatory workshop to outline the goals and context for designing a memorial. The annual commemoration takes place on February 14, with the youth-led ADESCO, including Beatriz, Erlin, Eric, and José, playing a key role in its organization.
Currently, the commemoration is held in the central plaza, but participants identified the need for a larger roof to provide more shade. Planting trees was suggested as a way to enhance the space and improve the environment. The plaza, divided by a main street, is still considered the ideal location for the event due to the low traffic. There’s also potential to design a memorial near the river, a site central to the community’s collective memory.
During the commemoration, around 150 people gather to share testimonies, stories, and music in remembrance of the massacre’s victims. The community sees the central plaza as a symbolic site that connects generations with their history and the ongoing struggle for memory and truth.
The memorial project aims to honor victims, recognize survivors’ resistance, and provide a year-round gathering place for reflection, healing, and discussion on historical and current issues.
September 2022: Initial Reflections
During the September 2022 workshop, the first analysis of the memorial project for El Higueral was presented and discussed, with two main themes:
First, the commemoration occurs in two places: a ceremony at the stream, followed by a procession that ends in El Higueral park with a mass, music, testimonies and other activities. The project should harmonize these points for a complete experience.
Second, El Higueral park, recently renovated with playgrounds and a kiosk, cannot be easily altered without undoing prior work. Thus, other locations for the memorial were considered.
Proposals include artistic interventions in the stream’s natural landscape without major changes. The procession could be enriched with a performance. The main focus is on revitalizing the space between the church and Casa Comunitaria, which offers great potential as a spiritual and community center. Renovating this area would complement the existing civic and recreational park with a space for memory, spirituality, and community activities.
January 2023: Second Design Phase
Between September and December 2022, international architecture students from KU Leuven’s "Surviving Memory in Postwar El Salvador" course, led by Harold Fallon and supported by Evelia Macal, Thomas Montulet and others, explored design approaches for El Higueral. Students Ketevan Gogodze, Efe Han, Justyna Pawelczak, Gabriel Schumacher Gutierrez, and Unai Balerdi Murias identified that the initial design proposal from January 2022 was too narrow for the commemoration events, leading to the exploration of a broader, open form with columns for both structure and symbolism.
A new architectural proposal, supported by AgwA, aimed to create continuity between the church, Casa Comunitaria, and the commemorative space using a hexagonal design. In January 2023, this proposal was presented to the community, with artistic references like Regina José Galindo’s "Ríos de gente" and suggestions from sculptor Miguel Mira for petroglyphs along the stream, symbolizing both ancestral and recent memory.
It was also proposed to plant Cortez Blanco trees, whose yellow blossoms in February would mark the commemoration, along the procession route. In February 2023, project collaborators participated in the commemoration, and a new topographic survey by Roberto Urbina provided more detailed information for further planning.
August 2023: Third Design Phase
After the January 2023 workshop, a revised proposal was developed to simplify the structure, questioning the hexagonal design while maintaining a wide space. The new plan extends the roofs of the church and Casa Comunitaria, intentionally emphasizing the disjunction between them. This allows for very simple roofs at different heights, providing natural light and ventilation. A central triangular space will host a Cortes Blanco tree.
The proposal includes raising part of the Casa Comunitaria roof by 50 centimeters and opening the west facade to improve ventilation and showcase the impressive view. The existing podium will remain for commemorations. Concrete columns, resembling those of the Casa Comunitaria, will be complemented by wooden and steel columns, with two ceramic-covered columns bearing the names of massacre victims and survivors. These elements aim to balance solemnity with the community's need for social and informal gathering spaces.
The new topography showed the need for a platform to expand the commemorative area, and the staircase accessing nearby houses was relocated. In August, architecture students from the Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas built a scale model (1/50) under the supervision of professors and project collaborators. This model was left in El Higueral to facilitate community input. These modifications were discussed during a workshop in August 2023.
2024: In Search of Realization
In 2024, plans were refined, and reflections on the realization of the works began. The possibility of microfinancing is being considered to prioritize projects such as tree planting and the creation of memorial columns. There is also a consideration for the community space, connected to the church and the covered commemorative space, to receive cultural programming, possibly linking it with the network of Historical Memory museums in Chalatenango.
DONATE (through KU Leuven - tax exemption in Belgium)
team
Local project coordinators: Beatriz Mancía, Roberto Carlos Chacón, Kerlyn Romero, Roberto Urbina
Supervising Survivors: José (Chepe) Luís Recinos, Rosa Hilda, María Portillo
River Stones intervention : Miguel Mira, Johannes Berry, Steven Schenk
Ceramics for the Memorial Columns: Lourdes Calero
Structural Design generously contributed by Greisch, with special thanks to Luís Nosiglia
Scale Model : UCA students supervised by Alexander Renderos, Karina Mora
With thanks to participating students in the framework of their curriculum.
El Higueral: Massacre and Repopulation
On February 14th, 1981, the Armed Forces of El Salvador and paramilitary groups massacred hundreds of civilians in El Higueral, Chalatenango, El Salvador. Among the victims were many women, children, and elderly people who were seeking refuge from the military repression and scorched earth operations in the region. To this day, the massacre has not been acknowledged or investigated by the Salvadoran government. Estimates of the number of victims vary widely, from 200 to 500—some survivors mention that over 1,000 people had reached El Higueral when the massacre was perpetrated. Following the massacre, the civilian population was displaced in the region, continuing the constant flight from military operations, within El Salvador and sometimes even abroad. In 1988, El Higueral was gradually repopulated, despite the ongoing civil war and harsh military repression, in a movement of hope and resistance.
From Massacre to Commemoration
The annual commemorations in El Higueral, part of the memorial design project, focus on two key events: the massacre of February 1981 and the repopulation beginning in March 1988, despite ongoing government repression.
The 1981 massacre is tied to the internal migration of people fleeing military operations during the armed conflict. Seeking safety in numbers, groups, known as “guindas,” fled toward rivers, only to be attacked. Survivors recall the army's use of scorched-earth tactics, aiming to eradicate civilians who might support the guerrillas. Near a river, a bomb claimed many lives, making the river a symbolic site of commemoration.
In 1988, survivors returned to repopulate El Higueral, an act of symbolic resistance. However, even after the Peace Accords of 1992, the military continued to harass civilians with violence, detentions, and bombings until the Peace Agreements in 1992, and up until 1996. A tragic element of the massacre was the abduction of children, later sold illegally for adoption abroad. This led to the formation of the Pro-Búsqueda organization, dedicated to reuniting families and seeking justice.
The memorial aims to honor the victims, recognize their resistance, and create a space for reflection and community empowerment, where locals can feel represented and connected to their cultural heritage.
Introduction to the Project
In April 2022, the community of El Higueral and the Asociación Sumpul organized a participatory workshop to outline the goals and context for designing a memorial. The annual commemoration takes place on February 14, with the youth-led ADESCO, including Beatriz, Erlin, Eric, and José, playing a key role in its organization.
Currently, the commemoration is held in the central plaza, but participants identified the need for a larger roof to provide more shade. Planting trees was suggested as a way to enhance the space and improve the environment. The plaza, divided by a main street, is still considered the ideal location for the event due to the low traffic. There’s also potential to design a memorial near the river, a site central to the community’s collective memory.
During the commemoration, around 150 people gather to share testimonies, stories, and music in remembrance of the massacre’s victims. The community sees the central plaza as a symbolic site that connects generations with their history and the ongoing struggle for memory and truth.
The memorial project aims to honor victims, recognize survivors’ resistance, and provide a year-round gathering place for reflection, healing, and discussion on historical and current issues.
September 2022: Initial Reflections
During the September 2022 workshop, the first analysis of the memorial project for El Higueral was presented and discussed, with two main themes:
First, the commemoration occurs in two places: a ceremony at the stream, followed by a procession that ends in El Higueral park with a mass, music, testimonies and other activities. The project should harmonize these points for a complete experience.
Second, El Higueral park, recently renovated with playgrounds and a kiosk, cannot be easily altered without undoing prior work. Thus, other locations for the memorial were considered.
Proposals include artistic interventions in the stream’s natural landscape without major changes. The procession could be enriched with a performance. The main focus is on revitalizing the space between the church and Casa Comunitaria, which offers great potential as a spiritual and community center. Renovating this area would complement the existing civic and recreational park with a space for memory, spirituality, and community activities.
January 2023: Second Design Phase
Between September and December 2022, international architecture students from KU Leuven’s "Surviving Memory in Postwar El Salvador" course, led by Harold Fallon and supported by Evelia Macal, Thomas Montulet and others, explored design approaches for El Higueral. Students Ketevan Gogodze, Efe Han, Justyna Pawelczak, Gabriel Schumacher Gutierrez, and Unai Balerdi Murias identified that the initial design proposal from January 2022 was too narrow for the commemoration events, leading to the exploration of a broader, open form with columns for both structure and symbolism.
A new architectural proposal, supported by AgwA, aimed to create continuity between the church, Casa Comunitaria, and the commemorative space using a hexagonal design. In January 2023, this proposal was presented to the community, with artistic references like Regina José Galindo’s "Ríos de gente" and suggestions from sculptor Miguel Mira for petroglyphs along the stream, symbolizing both ancestral and recent memory.
It was also proposed to plant Cortez Blanco trees, whose yellow blossoms in February would mark the commemoration, along the procession route. In February 2023, project collaborators participated in the commemoration, and a new topographic survey by Roberto Urbina provided more detailed information for further planning.
August 2023: Third Design Phase
After the January 2023 workshop, a revised proposal was developed to simplify the structure, questioning the hexagonal design while maintaining a wide space. The new plan extends the roofs of the church and Casa Comunitaria, intentionally emphasizing the disjunction between them. This allows for very simple roofs at different heights, providing natural light and ventilation. A central triangular space will host a Cortes Blanco tree.
The proposal includes raising part of the Casa Comunitaria roof by 50 centimeters and opening the west facade to improve ventilation and showcase the impressive view. The existing podium will remain for commemorations. Concrete columns, resembling those of the Casa Comunitaria, will be complemented by wooden and steel columns, with two ceramic-covered columns bearing the names of massacre victims and survivors. These elements aim to balance solemnity with the community's need for social and informal gathering spaces.
The new topography showed the need for a platform to expand the commemorative area, and the staircase accessing nearby houses was relocated. In August, architecture students from the Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas built a scale model (1/50) under the supervision of professors and project collaborators. This model was left in El Higueral to facilitate community input. These modifications were discussed during a workshop in August 2023.
2024: In Search of Realization
In 2024, plans were refined, and reflections on the realization of the works began. The possibility of microfinancing is being considered to prioritize projects such as tree planting and the creation of memorial columns. There is also a consideration for the community space, connected to the church and the covered commemorative space, to receive cultural programming, possibly linking it with the network of Historical Memory museums in Chalatenango.
DONATE (through KU Leuven - tax exemption in Belgium)
team
Local project coordinators: Beatriz Mancía, Roberto Carlos Chacón, Kerlyn Romero, Roberto Urbina
Supervising Survivors: José (Chepe) Luís Recinos, Rosa Hilda, María Portillo
River Stones intervention : Miguel Mira, Johannes Berry, Steven Schenk
Ceramics for the Memorial Columns: Lourdes Calero
Structural Design generously contributed by Greisch, with special thanks to Luís Nosiglia
Scale Model : UCA students supervised by Alexander Renderos, Karina Mora
With thanks to participating students in the framework of their curriculum.
