IN-PERSON Barcelona Livable Cities. Section B
Abstract
Cities derive their value from the integration of urban fabric with urban life, and there is a global movement towards enhancing city quality through a balanced approach to various types of infrastructure. One crucial aspect is green infrastructure, which includes ecosystems incorporating tree elements that benefit the population in terms of environmental, mental health and air quality, as well as recreational opportunities. Recently, Chile enacted the National Urban Parks Policies (PNPU, 2022) in response to the scarcity of green spaces in Latin America and Chilean cities, falling short of the SIEDU standards of 10 m² per inhabitant. This initiative underscores the need to address urban greenery deficiencies. In response to this challenge, there has been an emphasis on developing parks, prompting discussions around the concept of “green gentrification” and its parallels with the “High Line effect”. This concept highlights that investments in public projects with high standards can drive up property values in surrounding areas, leading existing residents to relocate to lower-value sectors. In this context, Viña del Mar, Chile, proposes the establishment of two urban parks. These initiatives are grounded in co-design and co-management strategies, emphasizing participatory processes in architectural planning. This approach aims to establish governance methods capable of addressing the complexities associated with green gentrification.
Alen Silva Fischersworring is an Architect from the School of Architecture and Design at Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso. He is an Associate Professor at the School of Architecture and Design. His professional experience encompasses various architectural studios and projects, focusing on the social formulation and evaluation of investment initiatives within the framework of the Chilean National Investment System, as well as the construction of small to medium-scale single-family projects.
Diego Vásquez Araneda is a Civil Industrial Engineer and holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV). He is an associate professor of the School of Biochemical Engineering, assistant professor of the Program of Formulation and Social Evaluation of Projects and professor of graduate programs at the same university. He has worked on several studies related to the formulation and social evaluation of investment initiatives in the context of the Chilean National Investment System, public investment planning and analysis of public-private initiatives.
María Lorena Herrera is a Civil Industrial Engineer from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV), MSc and PhD in Transport Economics, both postgraduate degrees from the University of Leeds, England. She is a permanent professor at the School of Architecture and Design of the PUCV and Director of the Program of Formulation and Social Evaluation of Projects of the same university, a program that trains professionals from the public sector in Social Evaluation of Projects, among others. She also consults in the areas of public policy and investment, social evaluation of projects, and sustainable transportation systems.
2:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Wednesday 16th July, 2025