Urban Culture Medellín

La Grandeza es un Proceso / Greatness is a Process *

Medellín, a city known for its resilience and urban innovation, carries a legacy of extreme vulnerability and conflict. Now, the city is shaped by rising inequalities, evident in sprawling gated communities and informal settlements. At the same time, it has been influenced by Urbanismo Social—an alternative design movement led by visionary mayors and a new generation of architects and urban designers. What are the places and people behind this remarkable architectural revolution, which integrates cultural and social infrastructure, services, and public spaces into the city’s rapidly growing built environment?

During this seminar week, we will explore Medellín’s innovative architecture and landscape projects and meet the designers behind them. We will immerse ourselves in architecture of Giancarlo Mazzanti’s Biblioteca España and Plan B and JPRCR Architects’ Jardín Botánico de Medellín. Urban-scale projects include visit to Moravia, a former landfill turned sustainable cultural center, and Comuna 13, a transformative neighborhood. Lastly, we will experience Medellín’s revolutionary Metrocable public transport system, by visiting some of the most remarkble Cable car stations.

* Quote by 574Lab, a creative collective and music label based in Medellín, Colombia.