Walking the city at 95cm high

During the week of October 15th, the city of Bogotá was host to the urban walkability event Walk21. It included a series of panels and workshops on how to encourage cities to be friendly and comfortable to walk in, as well as tours of the city and showcases of the landmarks and interventions that allow for more walkable spaces.

Urban95 organized and participated in various panels and workshops, and there were two visits to Urban95 interventions that display how the strategy benefits and encourages walking for families with small children.

Marta Román, international expert on cities for women and children, and Leonardo Yánez, Senior Representative for Latin America, were representatives of the Bernard van Leer Foundation at the event. Their conversations and presentations explored a different perspective on city development, one anchored in the opportunities and comfort of those who have traditionally been excluded from urban life. In the company of members of the city government, their talks approached the challenges of Urban95 in terms of mobility, the accomplishments of the strategy in Bogotá and the possibilities for future actions to realise a city that is walkable at 95cm high.

To show the way these elements materialise through Urban95, there were two polygons displaying Urban95 type interventions, one downtown where the congress took place, and one in Ciudad Bolívar. Playing stations, safe paths for children and caregivers, kits for playing in public spaces and artistic experiences for early childhood were showcased to international and national guests, government members and the population of the area. UNESCO’s “Arts and early childhood” gallery was displayed and interacted with through artistic experiences, and the photographic gallery of Urban95 Bogotá “Crezco con mi Barrio” was shown by the people of the territory in question.

This excerpt is from an article published by The Bernard Van Leer Blog, click here to read the article in full.