Asunción, Paraguay, is characterized by distinct cultural fusion where the indigenous Guaraní language and culture harmonize with the Spanish influence. The identity of Asunción is based on the complex coexistence of two adjacent worlds: the Historic District and La Chacarita. The studio’s inception was a result of a collaborative effort between Columbia University and Pro-Desarrollo, a non-profit organization that champions formalization within the economy as a catalyst for sustainable, inclusive, and innovative economic progress.
Our studio focused on two objectives: (1) forefronting residents’ experiences in the neighborhood and (2) cultivating sustain - able, equitable, and mutually beneficial relationships between the formal Historical Center and the informal enclave of La Chacarita. Through the implementation of a (1) Chacarita Empowerment Network and the establishment of a (2) digital repository, these solutions will address neighborhood stigmatization and lack of organization through counter-storytelling and establish new advantageous organizational structures. These solutions are imperative to mend urban fabrics bridging the Historic Center and La Chacarita and foster inclusive approaches to city-building that transcend boundaries between the formal-informal dichotomy.
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Columbia GSAPP I Fall 2024 I Instructors: José Luis Vallejo, Ryan Devlin I Tools: ArcGIS Pro, Adobe Creative Suite I Collaborators: Anisa Kharimah, Arimbi Naro, Charlotte Boulanger, Mateo Alexander, Nyadeng Mal, Reina Dissa, Saumil Sanghavi, Tim Small, William Fainaru Callahan