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