Abstract

This chapter focuses on the use of participatory approaches in the context of urban upgrading ofdeprived neighbourhoods and specifically in relation to the development of new public spaces. Thechapter is built around an integrated and participatory urban upgrading strategy called "SocialUrbanism", focusing on the first project implementing such strategy: the "PUI-Nororiental". Byillustrating and discussing the PUI-Nororiental project, the chapter shows how participatoryprocesses can become an important part of integrated approaches, contributing to the developmentof urban environments and social programs that are closely related to the needs and demands of thelocal communities, as well as achieving significant social and institutional outcomes during thedifferent stages of the process. The chapter focuses on the benefits that were achieved with andduring the participatory process of the PUI-Nororiental, as well as discusses some challenges andweaknesses of the process. Nonetheless, even with its shortcomings, the PUI-Nororiental serves asan example of how the strategic combination of participatory and integrated approaches, embeddedwithin the development of new public spaces can create outcomes that go beyond the physicalimprovement of deprived neighbourhoods. Urban upgrading calls for practical solutions informedby innovative thinking that comes from participatory and integrated approaches.

Keywords

Urban upgrading, integrated urban project, public participation, deprived neighborhoods, public space

Published in

Advances in People-Environment Studies
2012, number: 4, pages: 179-198
Title: Requalifying the Built Environment: Challenges and Responses
ISBN: 978-0-88937-430-0
Publisher: Hogrefe Publishing

SLU Authors

• Calderon, Camilo

  • Department of Urban and Rural Development, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Architecture
Landscape Architecture


Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/43708