**3.2.1 Current situation**

92 Landscape Planning

the mountain system get closer, before of descending to the Atlantic Coast swampy savannas. Nevertheless, during the 19th century, Medellin underwent a population growth

While the British industrial revolution expanded to the rest of the First World between 1750 and 1850, South American territories were just being colonized. Industrialization arrived in 1930 in the form of Medellin's first factory, which as was the case in Manchester, was a

The twentieth century brought an extreme increment of population to the city. Even before the demographic explosion the industry progress attracted workers from villages around that exerted a considerable population increase during the 40¨s. Since then the occupation process has been markedly informal and only from the second half of the 20th century, when the city had around 360.000 inhabitants, there were important planning efforts (EAFIT, 2010, pg. 50). About natural resources and their landscape shape, EAFIT Department of Geology, cites Parsons (1997), who mentions a cut on the rock of the southern strait (of the valley), which deviates the river Medellín4 to be able to explode the gold alluvium. And also mentions that communication between the diverse urban cores of Medellín was difficult because that they were separated by a wide muddy swath (EAFIT 2010 pg. 53). Nowadays, the river is completely channelized and the old muddy swath has been completely occupied. Many industries, administrative buildings and residential units are placed there, separated from the river by main roads that interrupt a sound relationship between people and the main

In the same source the following affirmation is founded: "The covering of the Santa Elena stream (the main affluent of the Aburrá river in urban area) started in 1926 and was completed in 1940 by the construction of the Nutibara square and Hotel. The rectification and the channelling of the river was started in 1912 and after several stage it finished with

*La Violencia5* in Colombia began in 1948, having an effect on the main cities, but particularly on Medellin, due to the attractiveness represented by work opportunities in a booming industry. That violence would derive in a hard urban violence that has represented an immense obstacle to a sound development and to a healthy relationship to the landscape.

During the 70´s the city suffered the very negative effects of mafia and drugs and it was sadly named as *the most violent city in the world.* Nevertheless, Medellín bears other titles that better account of the actual reality and landscape identity: *The mountain capital, The city of everlasting spring or The silver cup.* It is, as well, the only city in Colombia using the Metro

4 Two names are used for the river either Aburrá or Medellín. The first corresponds to a tribe of pre-Columbian inhabitants' name, and the second to the name that the Spaniard conquerors gave to the city

5 La Violence (1948-1958) Tensions between the two traditional parties, the Conservatives and the Liberals, led to a civil war. The violence, which left between 100 000 and 200 000 dead, ended with the establishment of the National Front (1958-1975), an agreement in which the conservative and the Liberals decided to share power even alternation in the presidency every four years, thus excluding all

much higher than the rest of the country (Álvarez, 1996)3

natural landscape feature present in the city.

the construction of the Metro in 1985".

3 Cited by EAFIT 2010, pg. 51

in resemblance to a village in Spain.

leftist movements (Rozema, 2007).

textile factory.

The topographical complexity is overlapped by a quite difficult social situation derived from rural forced displacement that makes the population and consequently the settlement grow not only from inside to outside but also by groups coming from distant places attracted by the urban imaginary, but stopped at the fringe. Medellín and nine more minor municipalities occupy the Aburrá river valley in a closed conurbation. This physical relationship is reinforced by the geographical identity of belonging to the same watershed (Figure 4) The steepness of the slope lets the permanent sight from one side to the other, from bottom to up, vice versa, and in general overpowering panoramic views (Figure 5).

Fig. 4. Aburrá valley watershed

Fig. 5. Centre-east side of Medellín

Simultaneously, with a nice view to observe, those panoramas show the uncontrolled and worrying climbing of urban occupation on the hills (Figure 6). The picture changes day-by-

An Approach to Landscape Planning in Borders 95

Local authorities have carried out laudable efforts that have propitiated a wide recognition of the recent development of Medellín throughout the world. There are two outstanding

Social urbanism is an innovative urban development strategy oriented to solve the conflicting circumstances that had driven the city to a critical situation. It consisted in to investing in grassroots communities in order to pay the "historical debt" that society owed to these urban links of the ignored city. It is not just intended to solve the underlying problems related to housing, employment and poverty. By building metro cables, parks, libraries, schools in highquality architecture, public spaces, and other projects with a high aesthetic and social impact (Figure 9) it seeks not only to "make the best architecture, which raises pride and self-esteem of the community, an architecture that generates a sense of belonging", but also implement

Fig. 9. España Library, Metrocable transport system, the bamboo bridge. Three of the many works recently developed as part of the program "social –urbanism", developed in the east

Integral Urban Projects (known as PUI, in Spanish). "PUI is an urban intervention instrument that gathers physical, social and institutional matters, with the aim of solving specific problems on a defined territory. In this way, the City Hall, using all development tools in a planned and simultaneous manner, gets that actions oriented to development

According to local planning and development authorities the PUI components, in order, are:

side slope of Medellín.

Community participation

reach vulnerable zones"(Mayor of Medellín 2009).

Coordination of diverse institutions plans and efforts

**3.2.2 Solution attempts from the urbanism perspective** 

programs that exemplify those efforts: social urbanism and PUI.

projects to" lead a profound social transformation. "(Mayor of Medellin, 2008).

day and in contrast to the Adelaide case presented previously, there are not enough open areas reserved. This is worst because the numerous streams that run down are being buried and their adjacent watersides completely occupied and deteriorated. To aggravate the situation, this invasion happens not only by informal occupation (Figure 7) but also by planned housing developments by high-income neighbourhoods (Figure 8).

Fig. 6. A sketch section of the urbanized Aburrá river valley, the border moves upwards constantly and menaces with colonizing the edge

Fig. 7. Urban growth out of control

Fig. 8. High-income neighbourhoods

day and in contrast to the Adelaide case presented previously, there are not enough open areas reserved. This is worst because the numerous streams that run down are being buried and their adjacent watersides completely occupied and deteriorated. To aggravate the situation, this invasion happens not only by informal occupation (Figure 7) but also by

Fig. 6. A sketch section of the urbanized Aburrá river valley, the border moves upwards

constantly and menaces with colonizing the edge

Fig. 7. Urban growth out of control

Fig. 8. High-income neighbourhoods

planned housing developments by high-income neighbourhoods (Figure 8).
