TEDx Talks - El derecho a mi ciudad | Amelia Tapia & Martín Pesántez | TEDxCuenca
The speaker discusses the importance of recognizing the right and duty to demand public spaces that cater to community needs. They share personal experiences and insights from studying architecture, emphasizing how it can address various economic, social, and geographical challenges. The speaker highlights projects in Quito, such as calculating necessary green spaces for water management and adapting toilets to use less water, showcasing practical applications of architecture in urban planning. They stress the importance of active participation, observation, and leadership in reclaiming public spaces, citing examples of individuals and communities successfully improving their environments. The discussion concludes with a call to action for citizens to unite, share knowledge, and demand cities that cater to their needs.
Key Points:
- Recognize the right and duty to demand public spaces that meet community needs.
- Architecture can address diverse challenges, including economic and social issues.
- Active participation and leadership are crucial in reclaiming public spaces.
- Examples of successful community projects include improving sidewalks and creating parks.
- Citizens are encouraged to unite and demand cities that cater to their needs.
Details:
1. 🌍 Public Space Awareness: A Right and a Duty
1.1. Rights Education
1.2. Community Engagement
2. 🏛️ Architecture for All: Redefining Wealth and Inclusivity
- Architecture should be a tool that addresses various economic, social, geographic, and physical conditions of individuals.
- There is a common misconception that architecture is only for the wealthy.
- Being 'rich' might mean having everyday access to basic necessities like potable water, electricity, and food.
- 'Richness' can also involve having access to beautiful green spaces near one's home.
- Safe and friendly transportation systems are another aspect of being 'rich.'
- Having peace of mind about healthcare access when ill is part of this broader definition of wealth.
3. 🔍 Urban Innovation: Balancing Needs and Resources
- Research identified the need for permeable green space in Quito to prevent overflow in the existing water system, ensuring efficient management of wastewater.
- A project was conducted to adapt toilets in Quito to use only 1 liter of water per flush, instead of the typical 3 to 10 liters, aiming to conserve water resources significantly.
- The initiatives focused on large-scale solutions for urban issues, targeting the well-being of city residents through sustainable infrastructure improvements.
- Outcomes of these projects included a reduction in water consumption by an estimated 70% per flush, contributing to significant water savings city-wide.
- The introduction of permeable green spaces reduced the risk of flooding and improved the urban environment, enhancing both ecological and community health.
4. 🛠️ From Ideas to Reality: Technical Mastery and Collaboration
- The speaker studied engineering in the Netherlands, gaining skills from small-scale manufacturing to large infrastructure projects.
- Graduated as an engineer, with specific expertise in creating climate-suitable metal profiles for windows that incorporate argon gas chambers.
- Collaborated with professionals like Vicky and Bibi on public space recovery projects in the Netherlands, highlighting the importance of networking in professional growth.
- The collaboration with Cuencanas focuses on innovative solutions for public spaces, showcasing practical applications of technical skills.
5. 👥 Transition and Adaptation: Urban Life Challenges and Learning
- The speaker collaborated with Vicky for almost 3 years to enhance public spaces in urban areas, emphasizing the need for responsive urban environments. This initiative highlights the right to demand better public spaces, crucial for quality urban living.
- The team has expanded with individuals passionate about public space improvement, demonstrating a strategic move to build a community focused on urban rights.
- A significant statistic is that 75% of children, adolescents, and young adults in Latin America transition from rural to urban areas, equating to about 115 million people, underscoring the magnitude of urban migration.
- The speaker's personal shift from rural to urban living provided insights into the critical role of public spaces, starting with streets as the first interaction points outside the home, illustrating the personal impact of urban transformation.
- Examples of public space improvements include the redesign of streets to accommodate pedestrian needs and the creation of community spaces, which are initiatives driven by the team's advocacy efforts.
6. 🚶♂️ Exploring and Claiming Public Spaces: Observation and Engagement
- Only 22 meters of public space are required to observe people's expressions and emotions; conversely, just 7 meters are needed to start a conversation, highlighting the importance of proximity in public interactions.
- Public interaction is directly related to mental well-being, and elements at a height of 95 cm significantly influence children's life experiences in the city.
- The observation of a mother navigating the city with her child on a makeshift carriage underscores the daily challenges faced by citizens, emphasizing the importance of being observant and attentive to fleeting yet critical moments in urban life.
- Working in Cuenca's historic center revealed that sidewalks as narrow as 25 cm, less than the width of an A4 paper, contribute to stress and anxiety, particularly when pedestrians share space with public transport vehicles.
7. 🌱 Youth and Mental Health: Engaging in City Planning
- 71% of young people in the city experience stress, anxiety, and depression, underscoring a significant mental health issue.
- 44% of these youth seek out public spaces, particularly green areas, which suggests these environments may support improved mental health.
- Despite 26% of youth expressing a desire to participate in city improvement organizations and clubs, only 9% have direct contact with city planning officials, indicating a gap in engagement.
- Empowering youth to claim public spaces requires education in architecture, exposure to global city planning examples, and comparative analysis with cities in other countries.
8. 🤝 Community Empowerment: Citizen Action and Impact
- Fabricio, a 23-year-old from Cuenca, identified poor sidewalk conditions around his university and led a project to not only repair them but also enhance the area with active community murals, artist collaborations, and public furniture benefiting approximately 3,000 plants in two small city areas.
- Heidy, a 24-year-old team member from Ambato, consistently advocates for justice and change despite bureaucratic challenges, demonstrating the power of vocal and persistent civic engagement.
- Onila, a mother from the small community of Aguaclara in Esmeraldas, united neighbors to build the first children's park in 60 years, highlighting community collaboration and leadership.
- John, a 19-year-old from Quevedo, showcases natural leadership by motivating peers to work collectively towards improving public spaces in their city, despite challenging circumstances.
9. 👨👩👧👦 Advocating for Child-Friendly Spaces and a Caring City
- Experts emphasize the importance of community involvement in regenerating public areas to create safer environments for children.
- Community engagement is encouraged, with a focus on the right of every individual to demand public spaces that meet their needs and desires.
- Practical strategies include organizing community meetings, collaborating with local authorities, and implementing feedback systems to ensure public spaces are designed with children in mind.
- Successful examples include cities that have transformed underutilized areas into vibrant play spaces through active community participation.