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1 August 2014

World Urban Forum 2014, Medellin – some reflections

 

Medellin 2014 informal barrio upgraded with improved transportation and art

Medellin 2014 informal barrio upgraded with improved transportation and art

I was asked to add some links to a posting I made at the end of the World Urban Forum (WUF)  in 2012 in Naples.  This was about an inspiring acceptance speech from the former mayor of Medellin, and my hope that the video would be available on YouTube.   Well it is (see the end of this post), and it also reminded me that neither had I updated the site nor commented on impressions from Medellin where the 2014 Urban Forum was held.

After some months the contents of individual presentations and sessions loose the paradigm changing impression that they leave you with at the time.  The impact of the snatched conversations, the bombardment of stalls, posters, videos, leaflets, books, DVDs and dongles fades.  The sessions of the development glitterati were interesting, but?  Apart from a refreshed network – what are you left with?

For me, the biggest impact was from the city itself and the transformations that had been achieved. To be left with inspiration rather than cynicism is a major plus.  The use of a high quality metro and bus rapid transit system linked by cable cars to informal areas on the surrounding hill sides is impressive.  The cleanliness of the system – platforms are dusted and polished – and the existence of a “metro culture” where users seem to use the facilities with respect gives food for thought.

 

The video that first impressed me?

 

The recent presentation in Medellin as part of  IHS alumni award ceremony:

 

More images of the transportation innovations linked to upgrading the informal areas of the city.   For further information, click the images:

 

For research on the impact of the Metrocables, see Dávila, Julio D. and Daste, D., 2011. Poverty, participation and aerial cable-cars: A case study of Medellín. In 12th Naerus Annual Conference, Madrid 2011. N-Aerus. Available at: https://www.bartlett.ucl.ac.uk/dpu/metrocables/dissemination/Davila-Daste-Naerus-2011.pdf

 

Filed Under: Approaches, Events, Medellin, Places, Planning, transportation, Upgrading, urban transformation, WUF 6, WUF7 Medellin, Youtube Tagged With: , , , Leave a Comment
7 September 2012

WUF Naples, the end

20120907-115050.jpgDay three was the end of the programme, barring the closing ceremony. I met a lot of people, so can only report on a few sessions. Here are the highlights for me.
The SIGUS programme of MIT ran a session looking at lessons  from incremental housing over extended time periods. The case of Lima was fascinating as it traced the changes over time related to political and economic shifts. The development was informal, but based on a technically sound plan. The case is interesting for me as what happened in Peru had been an important influence on the project in Ismailia, discussed elsewhere on the site. There was a link via John Turner and MIT.
A case from Chile highlighted the changing forms related to economic development and expectations. For me important points were:
1) The approaches were capable of responding to changing circumstances over time, a link to need for robust planning frameworks;
2)The planned framework allowed for a good and efficient development;
3)The long-term review allows us to learn and apply lessons.

Unfortunately I could not stay for the other presentations which included, from Egypt, the informal expansion of social housing and new efforts at incremental housing.

The second memorable point was during an award ceremony organized by IHS alumni. The former mayor of Medellin, Dr. Sergio Fajardo, could not attend to receive his award. This at first was disappointing,  but long-term was very good thing.  The former mayor, now Governor of the state, sent a video message explaining how and why he had entered politics and their strategy to help turn round his city and make it again livable.  This was one of the most inspiring communications I have heard from a mayor, and deserves a wider audience. I hope that IHS or the alumni will make it available on YouTube. If so, I will post a link.

Update:  I received links from Julia Skinner of the IHS Alumni Association.  The first was prepared for WUF in Naples, the others were filmed during the alumni awards presentation in Medellin in 2014

Presentation at awards ceremony in Medellin.  Good to catch the passion the former mayor shows!

 

 

Filed Under: Events, Flexibility in planning, WUF 6 1 Comment
5 September 2012

Day 2 WUF

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What themes seem to be emerging? Difficult to tell without the impossible ability to attend ever session, but words I am hearing more are:
Urban planning – linked in part to the new director of Habitat.
Story telling as part of presentations, especially from people from Low income residents groups and those working with them. Refreshing as an antidote to the ubiquitous PowerPoint. There is also a small increase in verse and rapping.
Resilience of settlements in the face of uncertainties including climate change and the financial crisis.
Interesting sessions? Asian Coalition of Housing Rights on the important theme of mainstreaming upgrading and linking local energies to city systems.
Kosovo, showing the strong role that NGO’s and Habitat, but unfortunately without the government sector.

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4 September 2012

First day at World Urban Forum, WUF

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First day of WUF.
Impressions? Not as quiet as my first impression in the photo! For me the main thing, despite all the sessions that are organized, is meeting people, often after a few, sometimes after many years.

In sessions, presentations are often too short to really get into and discuss subjects. Attendance ranges from the crowding of doors and sitting on the floor of a session of slum dwellers international, to an empty room for a session that just didn’t happen.

Anything memorable apart from meeting old friends? A presentation on planning in Palestinian refugee camps, told in stories, with the question of how to plan with people for future development of a camp where they don’t want to be in the future. The answer? Talk of improvement and not development, but get on to address intolerable living conditions. Subtle, but important in the context.

In the same session, the moderator asked what presenters had learned from their experience. One lesson shared was that participation in planning was not just about asking a lot of people questions about what they felt, but a negotiation where the planner has to engage with their own contribution. Participation is not abdication of the responsibilities and contributions of the professional, but an ongoing exchange where all sides should contribute. That sort of participation needs to be based on trust, and that takes time and needs the experience that comes from time spend in the field.

Let’s see what day 2 has in store.

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27 August 2012

World Urban Forum, Naples

The  biannual super networking event is nearly with us.  I will participate and will try to post some comments if it becomes clear what the urban future will really be.  Don’t hold your breath!

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