It has gained its fame from Netflix’s hit show “Narcos” and through tales about drug-lord Pablo Escobar, but truth is that Medellin is now being recognised for much more than that. The Colombian city has opted for urbanism and architecture in order to tackle unemployment and crime. This strategy is turning Medellin into a world-renowned hub for urban innovation …
Following our article “Embracing the metropolitan revolution”, we now turn our focus to why cities should lead decision-making in the 21st century and how cities can take this lead. It is time to rethink the power hierarchy and define which system can empower citizens the most in order to face current economic and social challenges. Why …
Bike hiring schemes have become increasingly become popular in all continents. These systems can serve as an alternative to cars and promote more bicycle use. Barcelona has lived a bike hiring scheme boom in the last few years that is beginning to dissipate. On the other hand, Santiago’s boom has just started and it looks …
“Via Verde” (Green Way) tries to reduce high pollution levels and make Mexico City less grim. It plans to give clean oxygen to 2500 people and filter all type of contaminants. However, despite the motivations, the Via Verde has received criticism of all types. The project first came to light when Change.org published the initiative and collected …
Peruvian gastronomy has become one of the largest contributors to the country’s economic growth. Every year, more tourists come to visit the land of the Incas for its food. In its 9th edition, Mistura is Peru’s and South America’s most famous food festival. The Mistura food festival not just intends to introduce the different varieties …
Millenials are voting for urban communities where they can live, work and play. There is a shift in the way cities are being run and the way they are reinventing their identity. Through innovation and creativity and the impulse of new public-private partnerships, cities are becoming the center of a metropolitan revolution. A new open innovation …
A new paper in Atmospheric Environment suggests that wood-fired ovens in Sao Paulo are highly contributing to air pollution. The city is already switching to biofuels, but this new finding could present a setback for Sao Paulo’s green initiatives. Sao Paulo is the world’s fifth largest metro area with 21 million inhabitants and it is considered …
“Ocupa tu Calle” is a Lima-based NGO that seeks to create new public spaces in poorly planned urban areas in Lima. Through micro-interventions, Ocupa tu Calle has been able to plan and create urban projects effectively and rapidly. This initiative tackles one of Lima’s biggest problems: bad urban planning. Throughout the last decades, Lima has become the victim …
It has been without doubt the gaming sensation of the summer. Pokémon Go has not just taken over our smartphones, it has also taken over our streets. The game is quite simple, one must catch these virtual animal-like creatures and train them for virtual battles. However, this new phenomenon might also have the potential to …
Barcelona’s artists and local collectives have long demanded spaces for cultural creativity and innovation. As a result, Barcelona’s city council has transformed disused factories and public spaces into artistic powerhouses. The Barcelona art factories foster innovation and creativity as well as promote cultural activities within the community. The Catalan capital has been at the core …