Social Urbanism – Integrated and participatory urban upgrading in Medellin (original) (raw)

This chapter focuses on the use of participatory approaches in the context of urban upgrading of deprived neighbourhoods and specifically in relation to the development of new public spaces. The chapter is built around an integrated and participatory urban upgrading strategy called “Social Urbanism”, focusing on the first project implementing such strategy: the “PUI-Nororiental”. By illustrating and discussing the PUI-Noriental project, the chapter shows how participatory processes can become an important part of integrated approaches, contributing to the development of urban environments and social programs that are closely related to the needs and demands of the local communities, as well as achieving significant social and institutional outcomes during the different stages of the process. The chapter focuses on the benefits that were achieved with and during the participatory process of the PUINororiental, as well as discusses some challenges and weaknesses of the process. Noneth...