Pure Space: Expanding the Public Sphere through Public Space Transformations in Latin American Spontaneous Settlements

by Elisa Silva (editor)

This book may seem a simple accumulation of twenty-one public space projects in eight Latin American cities. On closer inspection, the presentation of project descriptions, photographs, and annotated drawings reflects a concern to analytically explain the operative aspects at work. The publication is not intended to serve only as a catalogue, guide, or manual on how to produce public space in spontaneous settlements. Rather, it goes beyond the aims of an index of best practices. It is intended, instead, as an empirical base for a critical and theoretical engagement with the problematic of development, social inclusion, public investment, (in)formal settlement, civil society and the public sphere. The publication achieves its final function at this third level, by providing a compelling argument to expand the agency of architects and urban designers and creatively find ways of justifying, financing, and building public spaces in communities —spaces that have a catalytic effectiveness in achieving significant urban and social transformation.This book was awarded by a Graham Foundation Grant and CAF Development Bank of Latin America.FEATURED CASE Linear parks along the Estero Salado | Guayaquil, Ecuador80 National Park Babil.nia and Chap.u Mangueira | R.o de Janeiro, Brasil88 Urban agriculture along the Rimac River | Lima, PeruWASTE MANAGEMENT96 Moravia Ecological Park | Medellin, Colombia104 Plaza La Cruz, La Palomera | Caracas, VenezuelaRISKMANAGEMENT112 El Guasmo Beach, floodable park | Guayaquil, Ecuador120 Safety plazas in Santa Mar.a El Triunfo | Lima, Peru128 Recovery of the Juan Bobo Creek | Medellin, ColombiaINFRASTRUCTURE136 Northeast metrocable parks Comuna 1, La Popular | Medell.n, Colombia144 Barrio Las Independencias escalators and walkways | Medellin, Colombia152 Funicular in Dona Marta | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil160 Complexo do Alem.o | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil168 Ecotecnia Urbana Miravalle | Mexico City, MexicoPAVEMENT, PATHS AND THE SPACE SURROUNDING BUILDINGS176 Pavement, paths and stairs Cerro Santo Doming and Cerro Toro | Valpara.so, Chile184 Cerro Santa Ana urban rehabilitation | Guayaquil, Ecuador192 Fernando Botero Library | Medellin, Colombia200 Moravia Cultural Center | Medellin, Colombia208 Espa.o Crian.a and community programs | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil216 Plaza in Villa Tranquila | Buenos Aires, ArgentinaACTIVITY224 Casa Kolacho Comuna 13 | Medellin, Colombia232 AfroReggae Cultural Center | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil240 Alto Per. | Lima, Peru248 El Calvario Puertas Abiertas | Caracas, Venezuela

278 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 11, 2020