A Sense of Place – Medellin, Colombia

When you are being most local that you become more universal. Learn from the land. The way we speak shows we paid attention to the particulars in the world. Authenticity in the articulation of their own existence. Real relation to the places around them. To survive we needed to pay attention. Local materials, local conditions. Depp natural sense of place, human imaginations created culture. Special attention to local weather, land, land they live in. Sense of place is vanishing, globalize, standardized, what is the bargain that we are making? Loss connection between ourselves and where we live. Be present in your own place. Be alert to the world around us. Describe and savor. What we don’t grasp is lost.

Place is usually defines as a particular position or point in space, but it is really more than just that. It has a geographical, architectural and social connotation, which means that “place” is able to bring all these disciplines together. Place is able to make us develop an emotional bond or attachment to it. Place encompasses place identity, sense of place and place attachment.

The way people incorporate a place into the larger concept of their own identities or senses of self can be describes as place identity. When we identify with a place, it affects our self-esteem and self-identity. If we identify with the place, it will enable us to be more productive, and it will be more likely that we return to this place and have a positive connotation with it. If this happens, we are bringing this place into our lives, thus making it part of our identity. One example posed by Dak Kopec is workplace satisfaction. If employees positively identify with their workplace environment, they are more likely to translate it into their own identity, thus creating a larger bond with their company.

A sense of place, as defined by Fritz Steele, is “the particular experience in a particular setting (feeling stimulated, excited, joyous, expansive and so forth. ” A sense of place is developed when a positive connotation is associated with the place, such as comfort and feeling safe, which is then translated to “belonging. ” So when a person’s history merges with a setting, a sense of place is developed - the person feels that they belong there and are able to create and emotional connection.

The bond that a person develops with the spatial and physical environments of place is called place attachment. People for attachments to places that bring them a sense of belonging. These attachments can be developed through living and experiencing various emotions in one location. Smells, sounds and items can also awake memories and feelings that tie us to a place. Genealogy: Historical link between a person and a place. This happens when a place might be connected to family history, such as a home that belonged to the family for various generations. Loss and destruction: Nostalgic feelings that lead to attachment.

Throughout the late 20th century, Medellín was notorious for being one of the most ‘dangerous cities in the world’ for its economic and social issues caused in its majority to drug trafficking and communist guerillas. As of today, Medellín’s image has changed to become one of the most innovative cities in the world. With the work of planners, urban designers, architects and politicians, Medellín has taken a great step forward to rescue areas of the city that had previously been ignored. The city has developed into a true example of urban transformation and innovation thanks to continuous planning processes, inclusive policies open to participation (design competitions), and successful institutional innovation schemes. Traditionally, urban development projects in Colombia focused on finding concrete solutions to physical problems. Today, Medellín has decided a new strategy is needed to use architecture and urbanism as a tool for social development. In recent years, the perception of security is no longer the same as the previous one. The urban and social development of the city is remarkable and the number of violent incidents has significantly diminished. The results are visible not only in the physical improvements of the city but also the functional and social level as there is a change in attitude where inhabitants are proud of their city and place.

“Architecture for social integration” has been the theme of Medellín’s transformation. Medellin’s urban development was designed as an integral strategy to bring solutions to mobility, government, education and the reclaiming of public and green spaces. Specific plans such as the Integral Urban Project (PUI) and Territorial Ordinance Plan (POT) form a structural layout of the city. These plans allocate spaces for smaller projects that later become catalysts for infrastructure interventions in a specific area. The first project designed after these plans were established was the “Metro Cable” or Cable Car. This was strategically positioned on the northeastern part of city, with the objective of creating inclusive mobility and access to amenities for the inhabitants of the area. This project consisted of creating various cable car stations and urban development of the surrounding areas. The cable cars were able to reduce a person’s time by more than half. Seeing the success of the metro cable and the satisfaction of its users, Medellin set out to become “Medellín, the most educated”. This was established by major of Medellin, Sergio Fajardo, whose objective was to recuperate the marginal areas of the city through social urbanism. This sought to raise critical awareness of the injustices of traditional urban development and municipal management. Projects were implemented that echoed the government’s concern with repairing the educational system.

Construction of new schools and library parks with valuable design symbolized a "New Medellin" and emphasized that social problems can be combated through knowledge, cultural development and social inclusion. Paradoxically, social and urban projects developed in the central and northern parts of the city show neglect of the public space in the south of Medellín, specifically in areas with a high economic level such as El Poblado, Envigado and Sabaneta. These residential areas are mainly developed by private and commercial entities, and do not pay attention to the new architectural content of the city, and indicate little or no relationship between public and private architectural space. Although violence has declined considerably, real estate companies promote housing projects that require high levels of security and privacy, reducing public space to corridors for vehicles and sidewalks. Shopping centers have taken on the role of public space as a meeting place and recreation areas, somehow excluding a large part of the low-income community from using such places.

The problems of Medellin are very complicated to be resolved in a small timeframe. The growth and development of the Medellín’s metropolitan area progresses following a new and better direction. Thus, the city of Medellín is a true example of the urban evolution of large cities in developing countries. Architecture transformed Medellín and along with it, changed the way the professions practiced, designing the public space in more socially conscious, inclusive and and human way.