Functional City in Medellín, Colombia: the endurance of the modernist planning paradigm
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Date
24/11/2016Item status
Restricted AccessEmbargo end date
31/12/2100Author
Calderón, Edwar A.
Metadata
Abstract
In Latin America, the post-war period marked a significant epoch of architectural and
urbanist experimentation of modernist ideas coming from the other side of the Atlantic.
This was the case in Medellín, Colombia and the Functional City approach by CIAM
(Congrès Internationaux d'Architecture Modern, in English: International Congresses of
Modern Architecture) which conceptualises “the four urban functions,” proposed in the
Athens Charter as decisive city planning principles: living, working, recreation and
circulation. However, by the late 1950s (with the dissolution of CIAM) and the
subsequent decade (1960s) CIAM’s ideas started losing credibility and support. While
modernist urbanism was declining, large-scale economic-oriented approaches by
international agencies permeated the formulation of development plans. This was the
case with the planning approach proposed for Colombia by BIRF (Inter-American Bank
for Reconstruction and Development) based on industrial production. These approaches
led to (ongoing) transformations in the Colombian urbanist approach, concentrating on
socio-economic development. Despite these transformations and in contrary to local
urbanists’ impression that CIAM principles have been surpassed decades ago, the
dissertation argues that Functional City principles continue to shape Medellin’s urban
development today.
The research involves a historical study of CIAM, its philosophy (especially regarding
urban design – Functional City) its application and ‘’centre of gravity’’ relocation to
Latin America, where this approach has been implemented over last 60 years.
Consequently, a comparative case study, based on historical primary and secondary
sources was undertaken. The Functional City plans of three cities were analysed: Buenos
Aires (1938-9), Bogotá (1953), and Brasília (1957). Subsequently, an in-depth case
study of Medellín, Colombia, including recent plans was carried out. It was based
mainly on primary data sources; local historical archives (original plans and reports),
which produced a unique set of evidence that was supported through interviews with key
participants and direct researcher’s observations.
This study contributes to a better understanding of current urbanisation patterns In Latin
America. Furthermore, this study will invite reflection and public debate over questions
such as: urbanization for whom/against whom and who decides?
Particularly, it provides indicators for a desirable future course of action in Colombian
urban planning that would benefit directly local and national authorities. This benefit
would be through the provision of new insights and evidence to enable their work
supporting resource management and sustainable urban development. Moreover, this
will contribute to the design of effective policy and practice for facilitating longer-term
development in ways that are positive for the population, which may well have
applicability to other cities in Latin America.