SOCIAL URBANISM_ the case of Medellin (Colombia)

Candidate No. Student No. Institution Module Date

FGKM6 14070918 DPU, UCL BENVGBU8 12/01/2015

CRITICAL URBANISM STUDIO 1 portfolio

index 1. medellin . comuna 8 . social urbanism . metrocable . greenbelt

p.1 p.8 p.9 p.11 p.14

2. case studies . public spaces . low cost sanitation program . rainwater harvesting . alternative housing . integration into the city . recovering a city . favela painting . women are heroes 3. personal thinking . comuna 8 and social urbanism . comuna 8 intervention . water issue . intervention concept . further considerations

p.17 p.20 p.24 p.27 p.30 p.33 p.36 p.39

4. references

p.43 p.46 p.49 p.53 p.60

1. medellin

1

2

As in the rest of the world, Medellin’s population has been bursting, due to continuous migrations from the rural area.

Consequently, the city is formed by different and various sectors that are actually the reflections of social and economic differences between inhabitants.

Likely in every city in developing countries, the poorest communities are struggling every day to get a portion of territory to set up their life, usually finding land in the most dangerous and bad connected areas in the edge of the urban.

Medellin confirms these conditions, showing the poorest immigrated communities on slopes which surrounds the city.

3

1955

1985

1970

2000

4

. MAIN FEATURE : - 2.5 million of people surrounding areas

—> up to 3.5 millions considering the

many informal communities are around the centre of the city —> their leaders are fundamental figures = politician roles within the communities - plan maestro 2006 - 2030 —> to integrate various areas into the city dimension - transit oriented development = transports are supported by the state + private sector —> collaboration - big infrastructure for new stations and overground —> station + pilars —> change everyday life - no presence of a proper city wide public bus system - bicycle public system is being spread as a new transport - EMP is utilities

the

multinational

public

enterprise

which

provides

- EDU (Enterprise of Urban Development) —> construction of public space / building —> it is a public enterprise founded by the municipality but that usually set up partnerships with private developers

5

URBAN DIVISIONS

urban zones (6) comuna (16)

neighborhood (18) DAP planning department for planning (municipality level)

development planning (social / economic)

spatial planning

PLAN OT - 12 years = long term - infrastructure uses/limit/connections

PLAN DM - term 4 years - education/heatlth

are linked 12y 4y

major change

6

Organizations / associations for communities: - JAL: Junta de Accion Local (zone) - JAC: Junta de Accion Comunal (comuna) Also there are various throughout communities

grassroots

for

different

“categories”

- for victims --> displaced people from rural part of Colombia - for public utilities --> “disconetados” because they usually are traditional urban poor without services --> they are saving collective money to be able pay to get services - for youth and culture --> this category unifies different groups Moreover there are other leaders within communities but that are not “official”

7

Moreover the living conditions of these communities are even worst due to the lack of public services, the massive presence of criminals and traffic drugs, the lack of jobs and cultural activities and other deficiencies which of course damage the life of these people. Indeed, clearly, these communities feel like a sense of abandonment by the city itself, being segregated in uncertain and precarious settlement on unstable lands.

comuna 8 | medellin

8

In particular, we have focused on a specific comuna, labelled 8, because it is has been a point of interest of the municipality that is going to act on it with some urban interventions.

Comuna 8 is located in the eastern - central part of the city, formed by 34 barrios.

It is an informal settlement nearby the center of Medellin with 155.000 inhabitants, number that is still incresing every day due to the arrival of an average of 1 - 4 families every day.

COMUNA 8

This graph show the population classification in 6 socio - economic stratas.

Mostly of Comuna 8 inhabitants belong to the lowest strata ( number 1)

social urbanism | medellin

9

“the most beautiful for the humblest” (mayor Sergio Fajardo) “to activate the power of aesthetics as a motor for social change” (mayor Alonso Salazar) Thinking about urban interventions carried out in Medellin, a new concept has arisen: Social Urbanism It has been coined to identify a new way to act in the cities, especially referring to what is going on in Medellin.

In fact the government has started to rise concern about the city, especially due to its steadily expansions accompanied by crime and unsafety. So, the government has been working in a process of improvement for the whole city, being engaged with the poorest parts of the population located on slopes.

In fact, the city has been responding to its social and economical issues acting with programs which aim to upgrade the various poorest communities and neighborhood.

Examples of these “urban acupuntcture” actions are cultural and educational projects, bridges, metrocable, parks, greenbelt, escalators.

10

These urban interventions has assumed the name of “social Urbanism� to point out how their presence has modified the social conditions of their locations. Further, this urban projects have noticeable social reflections not just on a physical way but also on social life conditions.

Indeed, in general these interventions are thought to integrate the segregated parts of the city into the urban system, allowing poor people to reach and live the inner city as well.

metrocable | social urbanism

11

This system has been implementing by Medellin municipality to physically connect the lower part of the city to the higher, where inhabitants are living in vulnerable conditions.

In fact, the movement from the slopes to reach the city is not easy, due to the lack of paved streets and proper way of transportations.

Consequently, the government has been sponsoring the metrocable construction as a mass transport system, becoming the first city with this public transport modality.

The first line opened in 2008 to connect the city with comuna 13, transporting almost 40.000 people every day .

This program has been implemented to facilitate the movement from down the valley to reach the picks of the mountain, reducing the commuting daily time and to give to everyone the possibility to reach downtown.

Meanwhile also escalators have been developed to fulfill and share the same goal of the metrocable.

This system rises about 400 m, reducing community commuting time from 36 to 6 minutes

12

The picture shows a sample of street where the metrocable pylons have been grafted to sustain all the structure.

Of course their presence is shaping the public space on the street, bringing a new perception of its scale, dimension and functions.

This aspect is e s p e c i a l l y emphasized from the separation and no connections between public space and private space, because often the latter is developed by the private sectors which is boosting a high level of privacy and protection from outside, even if the safety level is actually increased.

13

These urban interventions has assumed the name of “social Urbanism� to point out how their presence has modified the social conditions of their locations. Further, this urban projects have noticeable social reflections not just on a physical way but also on social life conditions.

Indeed, in general these interventions are thought to integrate the segregated parts of the city into the urban system, allowing poor people to reach and live the inner city as well.

greenbelt | social urbanism

14

The city of Medellin is surrounded by mountains, which mostly have their slopes almost occupied by informal settlement. Those areas are so really vulnerable both for the inhabitants as for environment and land. The municipality proposed a greenbelt plan 72 km long as escamotage to contain the urban expansion, having then reflections on squatters who mostly are settled in area nearby or even within the green belt. In fact the main goals of this system are to stop the steadly sprawl of the urban area and to build a new green public and recreation space away from the inner city. The long term plan projects to host cycling routes, paths and family equipped areas, aiming to implement living condition for people resident in outer districts.

The plan follows the natural environmental boundaries, being divided in eight sectors.

Six of them are on Medellin municipality control, while the other two belong to neighboring municipalities.

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In each sector the plan is adapted in respect to peculiarity of natural features of the involved areas. In general the green strip is subdivided in 4 major “corridors�, which are so arranged :

urban consolidation mobility corridor

transition strip

environmental protection area

* / ' 0 3 . " -

As mentioned before, the greenbelt affects the communities on the border. Specifically, comuna 8 is encompassed by the green belt, implying that some ( nearly 6,591) households have to be relocated.

The environmental protection and the risk management seem to be the main reasons which support this removal.

4 & 5 5 & . & / 5

2. case studies

16

17

public spaces | cape town . PROJECT NAME: Mozambican benches

. GOAL: benches along the street to be used by guys to repair and fix cars . MY INTEREST: interventions

re-activation

of

space

through

small

design

18

. GENERAL MAIN KEY POINTS: - few guys started to stand in that public area on the pathway, waiting to fix and repair any cars problems - opposition from municipality to this guys’s business --> they were forced to leave because of the occupation of public land - private standing

land

concession

to

enlarge

space

where

guys

were

- possibility to build benches on private land where guys can leave there their working tools --> no more occupation of pubblic space but instead private land

. MAIN INSPIRING ASPECTS : - how design could be used through micro intervention that actually can change the people’s perception of public spaces - design strategies to boost appropriation and activation of public space

19

low cost sanitation program | pakistan

20

. PROJECT NAME: orangi pilot project _ Karachi . GOAL: facilities to informal communities needs . MY INTEREST: water supply infrastructure to informal settlement thanks to a participatory programme

21

. GENERAL MAIN KEY POINTS: - direct approach between professionals informal settlements --> leading example

and

inhabitant

from

- creation of this project thanks to people who didn’t have any cultural formation and preparation - Research and Training Institute (RTI) = institute set up to improve local knowledge getting “non formal” qualification for slum people —> training about architecture / engineer / plumbing - communities has been involved to be aware about the project and its different stages = they were informed about the process, the issues over local, the building design - also young women has worked in the project and construction - use of materials)

local

resources

with

new

technologies

(pre-formed

- collaboration with other organizations, such as Charitable Trust / Karachi Health and Social Development Association - the project has been accepted by the government as way to act and intervene to give big infrastructure to communities which have to menage themselves - ownership of the project by people of the communities

22

. MAIN INSPIRING ASPECTS : development of internal sanitation .Inside the house – sanitary latrine .In the lane – underground sewerage line .Secondary or collector sewerage

development of external sanitation .Trunk sewer/natural naga (drainage channel development) .Treatment plant

23

- training for non professional people - involvement and engagement of the community throughout all the programme - Mapping and documentation of existing infrastructure has been used to get information before planning process - partnerships with government - “The natural nalas (drainage channels) are the main disposals for sewage and rainwater. As per OPP-RTI designs these have been/are being developed as box trunks for sewage and rainwater disposal.”

“why should we do it? let the people do it” Parveen Rehman

rainwater harvesting | honduras

24

. PROJECT NAME: rainwater harvesting . GOAL: water supply system to marginal urban areas . MY INTEREST: use of rainwater harvesting system to bring water to informal communities

25

. GENERAL MAIN KEY POINTS: - different opportunity to use collected water --> domestic use / agriculture use - water collection during rainfall through a collector set up near a storage or container - here 7 liters are calculated to be enough per one persone per day - This technology for domestic use is pretty spread over the country, especially in the area near pacific watershed - This technology for agriculture use is spread in the center and south of the country, especially nearby cattle-raising valleys - the use of this technology is being increasing since 10 years - easy way to maintenance the technology harvesting system and the storage container

-->

cleaning

the

- technical assistance from the Water Resource Administration - individual use of the system - system promoted and supported by NGOs or state agency --> funds are given by beneficiaries plus - where the system is set up for common use, there are saving groups within the various communities

26

. MAIN INSPIRING ASPECTS : - “Harvesting water from rainwater collection systems for human use is considered the most appropriate technology in areas that do not have aqueducts to supply the community with continuous and reliable service. Properly treated and maintained roofs are the best choice as a collection surface, because their location protects the water from pollution, which is typical in ground-level collection surfaces. With this technology, pollutants can be reduced by 80 to 90%.�

- attractive technology for country with dry season, distance between consumers and poor quality of river water (or even absence of rivers) - way to avoid water transportation especially in areas which are hardly reached

alternative housing

27

. PROJECT: multiple . GOAL: promote new alternative housing and typologies . MY INTEREST: alternative solutions can be found using a radical approach and a new mind set to interpret the reality

28

. GENERAL MAIN KEY POINTS: - collection of projects about housing --> promoting a new way of thinking about living - new technologies --> materials - development of new social collaborations between people

dynamics

- new interpretation of “house� --> meanings without a strict definition

--> word

affordable that

ways

contains

of

many

- concepts concretized in various typologies : cohousing, incremental housing, Collective Forms of Tenure / Ownership

29

. MAIN INSPIRING ASPECTS : - new way to think in a radical way to really grasp where a proper solution might come from - many variables steer groups towards one housing alternative over another - “Housing, in this case, is an on - going process, where the focus is on the role of housing within the context of the household's livelihood.”

- “What is important about housing is what it does and not what it is.”

integration into the city | chile

30

. PROJECT: Bajos de Mena _ Santiago . GOAL: integration of informal communities into the city through formal housing . MY INTEREST: how the wish to integrate informal communities into formal settlements has lead to design huge inadequate building stocks

31

. GENERAL MAIN KEY POINTS: - 1994 - 2004 - way to relocate informal communities into “formal� seattlement through an housing policy that lead to build huge stock of building - linked with housing policy --> subsided housing by the government - neighborhood provided does not have equipments : no services, no infrastructure, no green areas - social problems level of crime - sense of segregation

-->

abandoment

high and

- December 2014 --> decision by the government to upgrade the area positioning a new police station to boost a social change

32

. MAIN INSPIRING ASPECTS : - concept of formal has double face and meaning --> formal does not mean that is a proper solution for the problem - informality can already hold a possible proper response to solve the issue --> so the communities engagement is important to give a right intervention - the real integration into the city is obtained not just giving symbolic roofs at the present time, but instead glimpse how the solution provided will affect receivers in the next future - the social conditions are influenced by how people feel integrated into a social wider sphere and dimension --> importance of ownership

“Since traditionally the housing problem has been understood from a perspective of how to reduce the deficit and move people from slums to new houses, it is assumed that the built stock is part of the problem's solution [...] a successful financing housing policy created a new housing and urban problem: a huge stock of inadequate social housing that needs attention. Empiric studies showed that in Santiago the biggest housing-social problem is that of the families with roof” (Rodríguez and Sugranyes, 2004:54 [translated])

recovering a city | chile

33

. PROJECT: reconstruction San Lorenzo de Tarapacรก . GOAL: housing public reconstruction after earthquake . MY INTEREST: how the identity of each place is important to let people feel still belonging to their place

34

. GENERAL MAIN KEY POINTS: - project to start the recostruction process of the village after the eartquake in 2005 - the reconstruction was support without following any kind of specific public policy --> just the existing housing subsidies policy was applied to manage the program - houses were assigned mostly following the inhabitants’ possibility rather then buildings damages - 3 buildings models were used to implement the urban conditions --> replication of the same kind of structure all around the village - no considerations of all the differences and specific features of various houses in the village --> it brought several issues - the new houses are noticeable smaller then the previous --> it has brought many changes in inhabitants life style --> different management of available space

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. MAIN INSPIRING ASPECTS : - identity of people is strict related to the place where their are living --> inhabitants reflect themselves with the feature of the place where they are setted - design solutions do not conform to everyone needs and habits --> necessity to design specific solution to respect different way of living - importance of specific policy strategy grounded on a specific case study or situation to be able to intervene with a proper response

favela painting | brazil

36

. PROJECT NAME: painting favela in Rio de Janeiro . GOAL: integration of informal community into a wider urban context being visible for the rest of the city . MY INTEREST: relation between street art / urban context / informal community

37

. GENERAL MAIN KEY POINTS: - project started by Jeroen Koolhaas and Dre Urhahn in 2005 - favela in Rio de Janeiro segregated on the edge without being recognized by the city - the project touch the urban favela to act as a catalyst - positive social change in this painted favela after this project --> for instance the crime level has been decreasing (one of the main problem in the previous situation) - community mobilized to act and paint on their houses and their - project was decided in collaboration with local community members - after the first project a fund raising has been set to get money to be able to paint the entire street - for the big project a large group of youth was trained to paint --> new way to get an income - improvement of local knowledge

38

. MAIN INSPIRING ASPECTS : - incresed new sense of ownership and self esteem from inhabitants --> sense of proud - new perception of the urban context by the inhabitants not just from the favela but of the whole city - example of low cost project with big impacts on life style for people in informal communities - appropriation of pubblic space through art --> street art as a powerful resources / action / intervention

women are heroes . PROJECT NAME: women are heroes . GOAL: art exhibition in slums . MY INTEREST: relation between art / informal settlements

39

40

. GENERAL MAIN KEY POINTS: - it has been spread in slums/favela of various (Brazil/Sierra Leone/Liberia/Kenya/Cambodia/India)

countries

- the project has been realized using paper - way to point out favela living conditions - huge photos of the faces and eyes of local women were pasted all over the outside of the favela, suddenly giving a female gaze to both the hill and the favela.

“It’s a project made of bric-a-brac, like the favela itself. We had to adapt to this world where the roofs of houses are made of plastic and children’s revolvers are made of steel. We managed to get by in spite of the steep streets, the unsteady houses, the unpredictable electric cables and the exchanges of gunshots where the bullets sometimes go through several houses at once” JR

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. MAIN INSPIRING ASPECTS : - incresed new sense of self esteem among women from the communities --> opportunity to raise interest and attension on gender issue - new perception of the urban context by the inhabitants not just from the favela but of the whole city - appropriation of pubblic space through art --> street art as a powerful resources / action / intervention

3. personal thinking

PEOPLE

8

8

COLOMBIA

medellin

H S F F O MEDELLIN C INQUALITY F M social urbanism public space U metrocable medellin

urban design

safety

42

43

comunity & social urbanism | reflections architecture and urban design —> to improve social conditions The social urbanism has various reflections on the environment of course but also on the social dimension.

built

POSITIVE CONSEQUENCES - social development - new identity - sense of ownership / proud to live in that community - life quality improvement --> new public utilities - saving of daily time and commuting time - new possibility to have more connections and interactions among inhabitants - sense of security --> crime level is decreased - new foreign people / outsiders --> tourism - new economic infrastructure

activities

in

the

area

by

these

massive

- possibility to be physically more integrated into the city

44

CRITICS - no community opinion e involvement - no economic improvement for low income inhabitants - no public encounter

space

anymore

around

pylons

-->

malls

as

public

- disruption of houses --> eviction and relocation - economic increased value of the land nearby the infrastructure --> imposition of new lifestyles - no attempt to improve community knowledge through training sessions and activities or even involve them to exploit their capabilities and knowing on their land - physically the greenbelt construction seems another way to gate the informal communities --> no more expansion - no possibility for the infrstructure and various services to be maintaned by the people from informal area in the next future - strong impact on the environmental issue

45

PERSONAL TIPS BEFORE THE INTERVENTION - the integration of informal area into the city is also possible through more sensitive response to the context - take the idea of informal as something with potentiality --> support the power embedded in the informal dimension - legalize the informal communities involved

with

specific

policy

adapted

to

the

- take in consideration the specific/real problems and needs - fundamental role of the community in upgrading projects - think strategically and alternatively - increase public inhabitants

space

to

directly

increase

relations

among

comuna 8 intervention

46

In 2008 the plan for comuna 8 was redacted. The community did not reject the plan because it was not in opposition to it.

However…

what are comuna 8’s priorities?

Theoretically the word “social” is strictly linked to a human dimension, likely meaning an engagement with people. On the other hand, “urban” might be seen more as through a physical connotation, especially referring to architecture and planning practices.

Certainly the best practice should be engaged with who is living in that comuna to grasp their real opinion about the future projects which are being implemented.

We didn’t have this opportunity, but anyway we opted to get a DIRECT CONTACT with actors involved in this projects, as dwellers, as professionals, as businessman.

For that reason we contacted few people and doing it we came across an amateur video, where leader and people from the comuna 8 explaine their living conditions.

The main aspect is that people are concerned especially about burning issue, that are actually not the construction of greenbelt, escalator or metrocable.

In fact they reclaim that they have problems with getting basic services (phone lines,internet, water system) and also they are not legal yet. “if you don’t go through these legal process you’re not fulfilling these requirements.”

47

48

COMMUNITY 8 CONDITIONS - people are displaced : Municipality demolishing these houses for the green belt project – no community participation - The community had a group organized called “rock comite impulsor” - This community got lucky because they received help from the EU – they helped them and consulted them - There group (aqueduct)

developed

a

great

idea

about

the

water

tower

- They also wants a sewage system - Developed an objective to get this aqueduct and sewage system - 80% of the neighborhood will be transformed – project from IDU - Half of the neighborhood is located in a protected area – called “pacifico”- until today we don’t have documents proving whether we can build on this land or not – our houses are currently informal - “My question is why don’t we still have documents showing that we have permission to construct their houses.”

- They are informal in a reserve – in a park - no communication with government involving them so they’re clueless

:

uncertainty

–

nobody

is

49

water issue The distribution conditions:

of

water

is

strictly

depending

on

these

. 3 taps for the community – there’s a certain timeframe where the water is available – its divided into zones according to areas – for 3 to 4 hours for each zone per day. . A system were everyone can somehow get water – they have problems with he water- it might be polluted and contains viruses . They have tried to talk to the municipalities on whether they can try and get piped water. . It Is too difficult to get the water up to the tanks . Asking if water tanks come up – its not possible no access . Sufficient for only 150 families . 2 sectors/towers which are even higher up – so no access The legal process is so a massive concern, wish and need for the community, but still it takes long time and somehow it actually impossible to be completed by these poor informal communities.

Consequently, the municipality is not giving them any documents, the reason is that they are leaving in a zone of vulnerable area and the government doesn’t want them to live there

50

We contacted various actors ( ZLATKO) and we wanted to search more about the water service and conditions of the community.

We discovered that the water is supposed to be supplied by EPM, such as the public enterprise of Medellin. It is the state owned utilities company, which is meant to supply water, gas, sanitation, electricity and telecommunications.

J O G P S N B M

T F S W J D F

G P S N B M

T F S W J D F

community informal service - self made system 1600 meters

- mafia presence (payment of a quarter dolar each day for the management) - natural water coming from the top of the mountain

However we have discovered that the company can’t actually serve people who are living in areas located higher then 1600 m.

For that reason inhabitants of the communities which are leaving higher can’t have formal water service and so they set up an informal system.

51

informal system present nowaasys

52

For that reason inhabitants of the communities which are leaving higher can’t have formal water service and so they set up an informal system.

However, water problems are always present, and people are opening up this concern through protest.

September 2014 “15,000 inhabitants of communes 8 had two weeks without water”

October 2014 “Inhabitants of the sector 8 march because they lack drinking water”

intervention concept | water issue

53

polluted water (virus)

healthy deseases . diarrhea . deadly deseases

no communicAtion with the municipality CURRENT CONTEXT

water service few hours per day . 3 taps . sectors

commuity protest

exclusion from basic services

slow sand filters system

54

Raw water flows into the storage tank, as it falls to the bottom of the tank it hits the hypogeal layer also known as the Schmutzdecke, this is a complex biological film which grows on the surface of the sand where particles of foreign matter are trapped in the mucilaginous matrix and dissolved organic material is adsorbed and metabolized by the bacteria, fungi and protozoa. Afterwards it passes through a layer of sand however this does not filter the water simply acting as a support medium for the biological layer and eventually reaching the gravel support and under drain where clean water is then drained to the clean water storage tank.

Water purification is very effective with 90-99% bacterial reduction. Average slow sand filters cost from 15 to 60 dollars.

However as the Schmutzdecke grows it thereby reduces the rate of flow through the filter. Eventually it is necessary to refurbish the filter. Two methods are commonly used to do this.

In the first, the top few millimeters of fine sand is scraped off to expose a new layer of clean sand. Water is then decanted back into the filter and re-circulated for a few hours to allow a new Schmutzdecke to develop. The filter is then filled to full depth and brought back into service.

The second method called wet harrowing lowers the water level to just above the Schmutzdecke, stirring the sand there-by suspending any solids held in that layer and then running the water to waste.

The filter is then filled to full depth and brought back into service. Wet harrowing can allow the filter to be brought back into service more quickly.

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1’ METHODOLOGY

2’ METHODOLOGY ground water

Iron bacteria Nitrobacteria iron Manganese Ammonium nitrogen

Filter layer

sterilization Water purification tasks

iron oxide Manganese oxides Nitric acid

water flow distribution mechanism

56

plan

Treated water outlet Slow Sand Filteration Tank System

Rainwater Harvesting System

Household Filteration Tank

SECTION

Treated water outlet Slow Sand Filteration Tank System

Rainwater Harvesting System

57

buildings implementations

The buildings in Comuna 8 are different in size, height, and structure. Some buildings are divided into multiple floors, either used as multigenerational household or for renting out to other families. Families usully build houses over several years as they save up more money to buy building materials. This is why we are proposing a water system which is not only feasible to implement but also to extent on newly built floors when necessary by connecting additional pipes. building up

5 years

15 years

30 years

15 years

30 years

adaptation

5 years

potentials

58

t 3FMBUJWFMZ TJNQMF UFDIOPMPHZ t /P QPUFOUJBMMZ IBSNGVM DIFNJDBMT VTFE TP OP SJTL UP QMBOUT workers, or environment t -PX FOFSHZ DPOTVNQUJPO t 0QFSBUJOH DPTUT BSF WFSZ MPX t -JUUMF UFDIOJDBM NPOJUPSJOH SFRVJSFE t 4USFOHUIFOJOH UIF DPMMFDUJWF BOE GPTUFSJOH DPNNVOJUZ FOHBHFNFOU

weakness t *OJUJBM JOTUBMMBUJPO DPTU t %FQFOEJOH PO UIF BNPVOU PG XBUFS UIBU NVTU CF GJMUFSFE UIF TMPX filter may take up a large amount of space and require a large amount of infrastructure t 5IF QPSPTJUZ PG UIF GJMUFS JT OPU VOJGPSN UISPVHIPVU *G MBSHF variability is present this may de- crease filtration performance. t .BJOUFOBODF NBZ OFFE UP CF QFSGPSNFE SFMBUJWFMZ GSFRVFOUMZ EVF UP the potential for clogging

59

maintenance of the service

collaboration with other actors

potable water

life improvement FUTURE CONTEXT

replicable and adatable to others communities

stable service 24 hours per day

inclusion

“TOMAR AGUA NOS DA VIDA TOMAR CONCIENCIA NOS DARA AGUA”

60

further considerations . PARTECIPATION :

It is an important aspect to interact with the community and to improve the already present water system, transformining it from an informal one to a formal thanks the technical support of engineers, architects, planners.

The partecipatory process may regard and involve : data collection / mapping collaboration with other communities

opportunity to get a income / job

training

PARTICIPATION

way to boost a change at the policy level

physical construction

self maintenance of the system capability building approach

61

Give a judge about the social urbanism and its practice is not actually easy because, as exposed through the portfolio, there are so many different inputs involved. Also, how we look at the urban reality is influenced by our subjectivity and our personal role, leading to different perceptions and conceptions of space.

Firstly, as a future practitioner, i am glad that at least there are many discussions and argumentations about the urban design as a practice that actually can work to change not just the physical aspect of an urban context but also the imbedded social, political and economic dynamics.

Personally, i think that in Medellin case, is not easy to define if the plans that the city is coming across, are right and proper. I would say that the burning issue is beyond the projects per se, but instead it has to be found in the reason why these plans should be done. I think that the basis of the social urbanism is actually an interesting entry point to act where a social development or at least a social change as to be done to allow people to live in human conditions.

I really believe that the urban space keeps a fundamental value and potentiality. Nowadays, analyzing cities, this aspect might be seen connected with the accumulation of capital boosted by political economic forces. I would argue that to me the fundamental potentiality lays instead in a more narrowed level, among people and inhabitants perceptions of their urban context in the every day life.

In Medellin the urban transformations are apparently good for everyone in the city, proving by the fact that the general life conditions have been boosted from various point of views.

Definitely, the attempt to include the segregated communities into a more wide urban sphere might be an appropriated way to give a symbolic sense of citizenship to a broader sector of inhabitants.

62

The social urbanism is so an ambitious practice that of course has to face multiple issues, but at least it is a way to make a change, especially for segregated and not considered portions of population. So, this transformation can actually push and support people’s everyday revolution aiming to upgrade their conditions and their roles into the society and into the city. In fact, i think these plans are in general a manifestation of new future promises, becoming an opportunity, a proof that something can change and be changed. This trail reminds me the acclaimed “Bilbao effect”.

In fact, on the other hand, i am wondering how these transformation will influence the city and in particular the everyday life of informal communities.

These transformations hasn’t solved all the problems present in Medellin, but at least they has been stimulating specific discourses around Medellin’s urban context that was in a such difficult condition.

However, i would argue that an important aim now should be to keep integrating these informal communities into the city, not just through physical connections (staircase, metrocable..) but also fighting the inequality still present. This abstract boundary is actually more difficult to be pushed, because it means to tackle the social fragmentation, including more people in the city’s dynamics.

So, i would argue that specifically the social urbanism practice could be an interesting tendency that has to engage with people to solve their real needs, wishes and rights.

For that reason our intervention concept approach has been based on comuna 8 lack of water, taking the potential that is already present to transform it into a new opportunity for people in their life implementations.

4. references

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LECTURES . Cirne J., Housing (Alternatives) and Typologies, 09 October 2014, University College of London, London, England . Cocina C., Housing in Chile: design strategies for integration into the city, 16 October 2014, University College of London, London, England.

Medellin. 9th October 2014, University College of London, London, England. . Devilat B., From 2005 to 2010: public policies for the re-construction of housing in heritage areas after earthquakes in Chile, 16 October 2014, University College of London, London, England Understanding the public in space and ways to visualize it ... and example from the Townships in Cape Town . Ruth McLeod, The Orangi Pilot Project, Pakistan, 23 October 2014, University College of London, London, England.

(Accessed 2 Januray 2015)

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ONLINE ARTICLES Go get out Januray 2015) World Health Organization

Rethinking urban fringes in Medellin blogspot, (online)

ORANGI PILOT PROJECT RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE (OPP-RTI), (online) 6 Januray 2015)

La segunda online, (online)

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Architecture in Development 2014)

Plataforma Urbana (online)

The Glob and Mail, (online)

Global Site Plans. Branding for Environmental Design, (online)

Rethinking urban fringes in Medellin blogspot, (online)

Holcim foundation. International Examples of sustainable construction, (online)

Mail & Guardian. Africa

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for security (online)

The observer, (online)

PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS

PAPERS GSAPP URBAN PLANNING STUDIO