Matias
Sendoa Echanove
Artist/Architect
Bogota
Link: Urbanology
Link: BogotaLab
Submission: "Bogotá at the
Edge : Planning the Barrios"
This article is about Ciudad Bolivar, one of the poorest area
of Bogotá. Bogotá, capital of Colombia, is a megalopolis
of more than 7 million people, which is growing rapidly due to
ongoing military conflict in the countryside. The urban impact
of the rural exodus is particularly visible at the edges of the
city, in the informal settlements. Between 1993 and 2002 the population
of Ciudad Bolivar grew twice as fast as in the city as a whole.
This is taking place in a very particular political context. Since
the 1990s, Bogotá became some type of laboratory for urban
innovations, placing, in theory, citizens at the center of the
decision-making process and using urban planning to promote social
well-being, rather than economic efficiency. The redevelopment
of pedestrian spaces, the creation of cycle lanes throughout the
city, as well as the implementation of an excellent bus system
have attracted the attention of urbanists throughout the world.
This article is based on a trip I made to Bogotá in 2002
as well as official documents, newspaper articles, and interviews.
A new visit to Bogotá will help me complement and develop
this ongoing research.
Bio:
After studying economics and politics at the London School of Economics,
Matias obtained an MSc in urban planning at Columbia University.
He is now a PhD candidate at the University of Tokyo in the Graduate
School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies. His project orientated
research investigates the potential of high-tech and low-tech information
systems for participatory planning in four cities: Tokyo, New York,
Bombay, and Bogota. Matias is particularly interested in informal
development and self-help in marginal urban areas. He believes in
learning by traveling, networking, and doing. His recent projects
include a proposal for a flea market in Brooklyn - New York, a manifesto
for a cultural center in Taichung - Taiwan, and a global workshop
in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo.
"Ciudad
Bolivar, Bogota, Colombia: 400,000 houses, each costs $270-$380 USD"
Matias Sendoa Echanove, "Bogota at the Edge: Ciudad Bolivar," http://www.urbanology.org/Bogota