The transformation of a Latin American metropolis, BY JIMENA MARTIGNONI ETWEEN 1997 AND 2003, Bogotd, Colombia's capital cey, invested in pub lic space like never before. A legislared land use program, the Plan de Ordenami- nto Territorial (POT), which took effect in 1997, compelled all Colombian city councils to draft « public space renova tion plan and put iinco action within three years. InBogoti, where poverty and crime had phys ically degraded many neighbothoods, he result was ‘nothing less chan a transformation, as three succes, sive mayors creaced a sweeping overhaul ofthe city’s public spaces, ‘The POT seeks to work beyond the level of aes thetics, fostering social and enwitonmental sustain ability chrough urban design. Specifically, ie focuses ‘oa community participetion,restoringand preser. ing che nacural environment, and improving the ality of buile public space. The program’ criteria Will be used t0 guide all new urban projects in Bo- ‘gota until 2010, especialy chose involving pedes. ‘an areas, vehicular connections, and green space etd ee ‘hat passes though Paraue del Vie, opposite, Cre Sen eats stance. A dsital study ofthe urbasetruc ee et Ce eT a ‘The inclusion of landscape architects in the mul- ‘Sdisciplinaryceams that planned ard carried out the Projects sounds a hopeful note forthe profession in otherLacin American ctis, which have born slow t9 recognize landscape architecure’s value. In Rogosst planning phase, the main task of landscape archicecs ‘was o outline master plans forthe parks sytem and forthe restorstion of nacural water systems through out the city. These lage schemes broke down into 30 shore-term projects to be finished by 2004, 3¢ ‘mote tobe completed by 2007, 8 the consolidation of the primary ecological net work) to be done by 2010. Most of these project ‘cams include landscape architects 1nd 30 more as wel Reversing the Decline of a city Partly asa result of the explosive growth that Bogota experienced during the pase 30 years—sing fern a Population of less chan 1,000,000 to 7,000,000-- this city became one ofthe most chaotic and insecure in Lacin America. An environmental study conduct. el berween 1993 and 1996 wasan import euming ts oars Cees Ce eet ee 105supports small stands of fale, of bam: boo, and paramo bunchgrass (Espelettia spp.) From about 990 to 1,100 feet, the ‘iran and sub-pérame—Andean-region topical habiraes, usually wet and cold contain grasses, sedges, mosses, lichens, and other low-growing plants. Here, at the highest elevation, brooks ane streams originate. In the renovation, the project team bas treated water as a visual thread linking ‘mountains to city: Water now nurs in chan- rads (some lined with stone, btick, con. crete, grass, and ocher materials) through parks and Linear green spaces, forested avenues and streess, bike paths andl walk- ways. All ofchesefearures have beca recom ceived and designed under the impetus of the POT and its new environmental sean- dards. As well as stitching natural and bul landscapes together, these corridors promote a more natural environment within the city and connece the me:topolitan area with the larger region ‘They also reestablish the large-scale ecclogical zones needed to ‘guide migrating birds and support other wildlife ‘The restoration and redesign of three linear parks —Parcuue Ne ional, Parque del Virrey, and Quebrade de la Vieja—illustrate hhow che reconnection plan works. The latter two projects received ‘great deal of community participation, and al of them involved landscape architects as corsuleants of as principal designs, Parque Nacional (shownon this moneh covet), the largest ofthe three, begins within the mountains asa more natural arcaand then Continues down the westetn slopesand through the city asa ribbon (of green space. AS ic approaches the urban grid, the park becomes ‘more urban, fumished wie benches and cher amenities for both active and passive recreation Parque del Virrey runs along a former riverbed, Quebeuda de le Vieja (not shown in the photos), designed for strolling ard relax ing, is the mose nacuralistc in seyle ofall the pucks in che Capital Distice, Inall three parks, water isthe focal poine. Inthe first ‘wo, it flows along narrow, bricked chan nels whose grassy borders ae usually filled with people. In Quebrada dela Vieja, small cascades descend beside wonden stars and tropical vegetation to create an urban oasis where people walk, jo hind ll three stand the East Hills or just relax, Be- S PART OF THE reconnection ‘As part ofthe Puble Space Renovation pan, bike paths were aded in ‘many parks and other public areas thorouzh the city. Parque da Vevey 's ee ofthe most used by joggers, bikers, and walker ‘San Prancisco, the river thar once lowed here and now runs more than 25 feet beneath the surface, As pare ofthe reforestation plan for Avenida Jimenez, two native ecies, California pepper (Sci rus moll) anda native palm (Coreylon quinduivene)—the national ‘ree of Colombia—have been planted to celebrate the local land- Scape. Traditionally, Bogor’ streets and avenueshave been lined ‘with exotiespeces, In chis case, landscape architects were par of a committee that amended the desiga and planting plan after the en ‘gineering features had been mapped out. This avenue also serves the ccmpositional spine forthe reno. vation of central Bogoc. It starts inLa Candelaria neighbothood — thesite ofthe original Spanish settlerment—and reaches Parque del ‘Tercer Milenio, o¢Thirel Millennium Park. Pare ofthe urbua parks system, thispark embodies he plan's overall social agenda to serve Colombian Landscape Architects Build on Steady Gains landscape architect Martha Faardo—the first woman and Latin American professional ‘to hold this postion—and Los Andes Univer- ‘sity nd the National laverians University ‘ow require lndscape design credits in {their architecture programs. Tadeo Unbersi- {ty also requires landscape design credits in jet | ata eeeerecceet es a atc ae alt eer ceee ta This water axis symbolically alludes to Rio # 109