Architecture Uplifting the Slums of Medellin

By Emma Matthews

Poor quality houses, high crime rates, no infrastructure and poor sanitation, there is no argument that slums are inadequate places to live that no one should be subjected to. However, it is not the problems of the residents that are taken into account in large redevelopment schemes, but those of the local governments and capitalists, who impose alien residential blocks on the communities. This is one of the few schemes where redevelopment has focused on directly improving the lives of the residents in the slums, through the use of iconic community based architecture and infrastructure.

Medellin is the second largest city in Columbia, and once known as the murder capital of the world, with an estimated 6,500 people killed in just 1991. Small children used to be offered money to kill the police, whilst dead bodies were dumped in churches. The slums in Medellin, located high on the mountains, had poor access to the metro and rest of the city, they were rejected, discarded from the city and its society.

However, a new mayor with a background in architecture understood these problems and created a large redevelopment scheme which aimed to connect the slums to the rest of Medellin. This consisted of three main projects. The first of these was a series of cable cars, allowing a much quicker connection over the mountains to the nearest metro line. The nature of cable cars meant minimal disruption and demolition needed in their construction. They also are a safe and protected way to travel between destinations with minimal risk of crime.

The second, perhaps much more visually powerful solution, was a 400m escalator that reduced the journey time from half an hour to just 8 minutes. This was made iconic by the orange roof, acting as a symbol of redevelopment and hope to the slums. As a landmark it also started to attract some tourists, helping to improve the local economy. However it was not without problems, the residents had no idea how to use an escalator, so practice trips to the local shopping centre had to first be carried out.

The third solution was a series of 5 library parks, providing somewhere for the poorest people to study, as well as a meeting point for the community. Bold contemporary architecture was used, to create a clear focus to the community and to again act as a landmark. In fact many consider the library parks to be some of the best architecture in the city. The Leon de Grief Library Park by Giancarlo Mazzanti consists of three square modules connected by a curved one, all with different uses, a community centre, library and culture centre. On the roof top a series of shaded plazas are created, acting as a meeting point and providing areas to watch sport events that take place on the pitches. The Spain Library park, also by Mazzanti, is less concerned with outside pubic meeting space, with the whole design focused on the creation of a monument. Three alien black boxes sit amongst the monotony of the slum. These library parks, created somewhere where the residents could be proud of, a place where education in all forms, could benefit the quality of life of the residents.

These three schemes have proved successful, with the murder rate estimated to have dropped by 80%. This can be attributed to the use of ‘social architecture’ where politicians and entrepreneurs understood, they had to make a future for everyone.