The value of informal settlements in the design of cities: cali, colombia

Institutions: UIC Barcelona, Spain; Universidad del Valle, Colombia; Universidad de San Buenaventura, Colombia; Barcelona City Council, Spain

Years: 2009-2010

Researchers: Boris Acosta, Raquel Colacios, Pedro Duque, Pedro Martínez, Carmen Mendoza (PI), Julio Serna

The aim of this project is to identify, through mapping and fieldwork, the social and spatial values of informal settlements in order to direct their physical and social regeneration. Through a case study on the informal settlement of Silohe in Cali, Colombia, the project seeks to identify the physical and social traits of the settlement and incorporate them into a physical grid made up of urban projects capable of propelling its urban regeneration. This process is developed in accordance with the social, environmental and public spaces with which the community identifies itself. The methodology is based on fieldwork performed alongside the settlement’s stakeholders in order to identify their needs and spatial values.