Un Laboratorio Vivo para el co-diseño de ciudades más sostenibles, justas y seguras.
Barrios Vivos
“Barrios Vivos” is the first pilot of what intends to be a community-driven network of small-scale interventions that co-create public spaces in which people can gather, children can play and elders can enjoy. It also serves to the purpose of breaching a gap between younger generations and elderly people, by demonstrating that the natural tension between these groups can adressed via participation and culture.
The project was developed through funds of the Safe and Sound Cities (S2Cities) initiative that is currently beign developed in the municipality of Envigado, part of Medellin’s metropolitan area. This initiative intends to materialize projects that promote safer environments, and which are designed by youth leaders alongisde communities.
First intervention: pilot in San Rafael
Allies: Fundación Mi Sangre
Collaborators:
Financing: GIB
With a total budget of around 700 dollars (2,850,000 COP), the project intervened in 300 m2 of public space, including green areas and hard surfaces, and 20 m2 of walls.
Functional gardens were created in the space, introducing 40 individuals of 15 native species, as well as a “bee hotel” and a composting area.
A concrete slab that was used for parking motorbikes was removed and replaced with a permeable gravel surface. A small park was designed and built with the help of the community, which includes a wooden marimba, a bench, and a slide. A local artist donated a mural that was painted on the wall of the neighborhood school.
The stage was developed through a series of participatory workshops over six weeks, from mid-August (2023) and ending on September 22 with an opening ceremony.
Second intervention: Alto Las Flores
Allies: Fundación Mi Sangre
Collaborators:
Secretaría de Medio Ambiente de Envigado
Junta de Acción Comunal Alto Las Flores
Mesa de Jóvenes JAC
Financing: GIB
In Alto Las Flores, the intervention also happened next to a public school. We chose to focus on a tactic urbanism intervention to reduce speed in the school’s street. A leftover green area that wasn’t being used was transformed into a small park, where we also introduced native species of bushes and trees.
As budget was bigger and we already had experience from San Rafael, we were able to get better quality furniture from sturdier materials. A mural was also painted in the facade of a house facing the park."