IN-HABIT: Replicating Solutions for Inclusive Urban Development
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IN-HABIT: Replicating Solutions for Inclusive Urban Development
On November 21, 2024, the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá became a hub for international collaboration as it hosted a pivotal seminar for the IN-HABIT Project. This event brought together researchers, local leaders, and policymakers from Colombia, Spain, and Italy to explore replicability—how strategies for inclusive urban health and well-being can adapt to diverse contexts.
With contributions from experts representing the University of Córdoba, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Universidad Luis Amigó, and the University of Pisa, alongside practitioners from Design for Change, the event underscored the importance of co-creation and local adaptation in addressing urban inequality.
Framing the discussions was a keynote from María del Mar Delgado, IN-HABIT Project Coordinator from the University of Córdoba, who shared the vision behind the initiative:
“Replicability isn’t about copying solutions; it’s about adapting them. It’s about asking: What works here? What doesn’t? And why? This approach ensures that solutions resonate with the communities they serve.”
Delgado emphasized that while IN-HABIT began as a European initiative, its principles transcend geography. Expansion to Bogotá and Medellín reflects the universality of its core mission—tackling urban marginality through innovative, inclusive, and sustainable practices. “Every city is unique,” she noted, “but marginality is a shared reality, and through collaboration, we can find shared solutions.”
Her message resonated with participants as they discussed how interventions in Córdoba’s Las Palmeras neighborhood—one of Spain’s most vulnerable communities—could inform strategies for addressing challenges in Bogotá’s Ciudad Bolívar and Medellín’s Comuna 9.
Nature-Based Solutions: a catalyst for social change
Catalina Cruz and Javier Martínez from the University of Córdoba demonstrated how nature-based solutions (NBS) in Las Palmeras successfully transformed degraded urban spaces into vibrant, community-owned assets. These initiatives included:
- Co-designed green spaces that fostered ecological health and social interaction.
- Tree-lined walkways that reduced urban heat and enhanced walkability.
- Public plazas designed with local input to reflect community identity.
“Nature isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s a social tool,” Cruz explained. Martínez added: “In Bogotá and Medellín, NBS can reclaim neglected areas, creating safe, accessible spaces that resonate with cultural and social dynamics.”
Their work underscored that involving communities at every stage—from design to maintenance—ensures the sustainability and success of these interventions.
Youth Participation: co-creating the future
Miguel Luengo, founder of Design for Change, emphasized the power of youth in shaping urban environments.
“Children and young people aren’t just the future—they’re the present. Our role is to listen and co-design with them, not impose solutions.”
Luengo shared a five-phase methodology—Feel, Imagine, Act, Evoluate, and Share—which empowers youth to take active roles in urban development. Workshops in Córdoba demonstrated how children, by identifying problems and proposing solutions, can bring real change to their communities. This model, now in 70 countries, is a cornerstone of IN-HABIT’s replicable strategies for youth engagement.
Animals as Nature-Based Solutions
Chiara Mariti from the University of Pisa introduced an innovative approach by using animals as nature-based solutions. She explained that the human-animal bond is an underutilized resource in cities.
“Animals are already part of urban environments,” Mariti said, “but the potential of the bond they create with people is often overlooked.”
Her research in Lucca explored the transformative impact of this bond, from creating “animal lines”—dedicated trails and areas for interaction with animals—to assisted therapy programs in care homes. For example, 90 residents in Lucca participated in pet-assisted therapy, showing improved stress levels, sleep quality, and emotional well-being.
Popular Habitat, Nature-Based Solutions, and Intersectionality in Bogotá
Olga Ceballos, Milena Rincón, and Jaime Hernández García from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana addressed the urban challenges of Bogotá’s informal settlements, particularly in Ciudad Bolívar.
Ceballos noted that 30% of Bogotá’s territory developed informally, with many of its poorest residents relying on informal housing for survival. “Informality persists as a sustainable process for the city’s poorest residents,” she stated.
Rincón explored intersectionality as a lens to understand inequality: “Well-being must reflect the intersecting oppressions of race, class, and gender, addressing the realities of marginalized communities.”
Hernández García emphasized that areas like the southern urban edge of Bogotá are shaped by collective resilience, where communities mobilize for dignified living and ecological preservation. Highlighting concepts like vivir sabroso and buen vivir, he described a collective well-being rooted in solidarity and community-driven action, distinct from individualistic or economic measures.
Their insights underscored the importance of integrated, community-led strategies to address Bogotá’s challenges, blending global frameworks with local realities.
PIMI Habitat: Bogotá’s Approach to Neighborhood Improvement
Lina González from Bogotá’s District Habitat Department introduced PIMI Habitat—a program aimed at tackling housing deficits and improving living conditions in marginalized neighborhoods. Using a data-driven approach, PIMI Habitat prioritizes the most needy areas, integrating interventions across sectors to address climate change and enhance housing quality.
“We’re moving beyond isolated interventions to coordinated action plans,” González explained, stressing the importance of community-centered solutions.
Community Health and Well-Being: Replicating IN-HABIT in Medellín
Juan Diego Betancur from Universidad Luis Amigó discussed IN-HABIT’s replicability in Medellín, focusing on Comuna 9—a historically rich and vibrant area. Betancur emphasized the importance of involving community actors in shaping interventions: “It’s not about imposing solutions, but co-creating with the communities who best understand their needs.”
Betancur’s team identified key neighborhoods like Miraflores and Morro Cristo del Salvador, each with unique cultural and environmental characteristics. IN-HABIT Medellín fosters initiatives such as:
- IN-HABIT Cocina Urbana, which promotes community connection through public cooking events.
- IN-HABIT Artistas Urbanos, which transforms urban spaces through local art.
- Nature-based solutions that protect native ecosystems and promote sustainable practices.
By fostering interdependence and empowering local actors, Medellín exemplifies how IN-HABIT’s principles can inspire meaningful change in diverse urban contexts.
Looking ahead: a shared vision for inclusive cities
The IN-HABIT event reinforced the potential for replicable strategies rooted in co-creation, inclusivity, and adaptability to address systemic urban inequalities. From Bogotá and Medellín to Córdoba, Lucca, and beyond, the event showcased how IN-HABIT’s principles can inspire meaningful urban transformation.
As María del Mar Delgado concluded:
“Our vision is global, but the impact is local. IN-HABIT is about creating cities where everyone—regardless of their background—can thrive.”
We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Pontificia Universidad Javeriana and all of our Colombian partners for their warm welcome and hospitality. A special thanks to all the participants for their invaluable insights, which have furthered the understanding of how to create more inclusive and sustainable cities. Through the dedication and collaboration of everyone involved, we are one step closer to realizing the vision of IN-HABIT: transforming cities for the better, with the people at the heart of it all.
