reflections on transforming madrid project for scribd.pdf

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Your Personal View on Todays Cities.

Reflections via Transforming Madrid Project

As citizen and master in Architecture student living in Madrid I have a close link to this city

therefore I will use it to reconsider the topic of the Future City. Since a new initiative has been

launched last week related with this purpose: Transforming Madrid, in this paper I have put

together the information on their website along with my own comments.

Madrid is a cosmopolitan and innovative city that over the last decade has assimilated deep

transformations in social, economic and spatial terms. In a few years it has transformed its

profile in a very significant way:

-The renewal of transport infrastructures such as the metro and M30 road have been the

foundation of long-term urban projects.

-The rehabilitation of the city center, or the creation of a new metropolitan centrality as an

extension of the Castellana axis.

-The transformations of public space with the green system of Madrid Ro, Prado Recoletosaxis or remodeling Serrano Street.

Nevertheless the city has failed to generate a narrative of its achievements and aspirations for

the future. This concern motivated the creation of a Madrid Think Tank,an initiative that has

recently been launched and the development of Central Madrid Project.

What is Madrid Think Tank all about?

MADRID THINK TANK has been created as a space to develop a collective urban project for

Madrid through citizen participation. It has been conceived as a tool for the city and its

territory to reinvent itself and to improve the quality of life.


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My view is that it can be very positive to consider citizens as active agents towards the future

urban planning of Madrid. As this is something completely new, we will have to see how it can

be done in a successful way. There is also a need to reinforce the image of Madrid on a global

scale so it will be interesting to use this initiative in terms of marketing and branding. As a

capital city, Madrid has not taken advantages so far of all its potential.

What is the challenge?

Madrid Think Tank aims to create a space for participation, dialogue and communication

between institutions, different disciplines and society, in order to overcome the historical

disconnection between them, while also enriching the construction process and management

of the city. I consider these intentions very ambitious and we have to see if they are correctly

implemented, for the moment there is only a platform and website

http://www.madridthinktank.com

What role do architects have in this Madrid Think Tank project?

The Institute of Architects of Madrid, COAM (Colegio de Arquitectos de Madrid) considers

architects can and should take an active role in the process of reflection and change to make a

better city Madrid. Therefore, COAM has decided to promote and lead the creation of Madrid

Think Tank.

How does Madrid Think Tank approach its work?

Due to the fact that urban reality is vast and complexthere is a need to reduce complexity in acertain way. The approach is meant to be practical so urban phenomena are grouped and

organized in thematic lines of work. The starting point for reflection is MADRID 2020, the

Olympic Games project, and it focuses on 10 areas of action.

1-Madrid, Global City.

There is still a lack of proposals on this topic, not only on the website but in general. Madrid

opposed has not branded its position in the international sphere and there is still a long way to

go. The Madrid Region has approximately 6.5 million inhabitants (2010). The population of the

region has grown considerably over recent years and has very diverse origins. Over 1 million ofthe inhabitants, equivalent to 17% of the total, are foreigners. More than half of the foreigners

living in the Madrid Region come from Latin America. This fact could be a good starting point

to try and develop a more international image of the city.

2-Economic Activity. Madrid Tourism & Entrepreneurs.

The economy of the Madrid Region is very dynamic and in constant growth. Madrids economy

is focused on the services sector; with a special importance on tourism it holds the

headquarters of the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization). 30% of all ICT

companies in Spain are based in Madrid, along with 26% of all biotechnology companies, and

more than 67% of companies in the Aerospace sector. There is a growing community of


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entrepreneurs and many coworking spaces are spreading around the city. It is gradually

turning into a start-up hub seed according to this study:

http://blog.digital.telefonica.com/?press-release=startup-ecosystem-report-2012

3-Quality of Life and Participation.

The capital city of Madrid, has over 3.3 million inhabitants, and is also the most densely

populated city in Spain. Life expectancy of its citizens is one of the highest in the world: (men:

79 years / women: 84 years). Within the last years many citizen movements have arisen to

promote cultural and social changes in their neighbourhoods. This has been quite a positive

change and you can find some good examples on these links:

http://viveroiniciativasciudadanas.net/

http://elcampodecebada.org/

http://vdebegona.wordpress.com/

4-Historical and Natural Heritage.

The Madrid offers a broad range of cultural, leisure and sporting activities including more than

100 museums as well as numerous art galleries, and exhibition and artistic areas. The

collections of the Prado, Reina Sofa, and Thyssen art museums are of particular importance,with 5 million visitors a year. There are more than 600 buildings of artistic heritage, about 69
http://blog.digital.telefonica.com/?press-release=startup-ecosystem-report-2012http://blog.digital.telefonica.com/?press-release=startup-ecosystem-report-2012http://viveroiniciativasciudadanas.net/http://viveroiniciativasciudadanas.net/http://elcampodecebada.org/http://elcampodecebada.org/http://vdebegona.wordpress.com/http://vdebegona.wordpress.com/http://vdebegona.wordpress.com/http://elcampodecebada.org/http://viveroiniciativasciudadanas.net/http://blog.digital.telefonica.com/?press-release=startup-ecosystem-report-2012


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cultural venues including theaters, opera houses, dance centers, and 30 auditoriums. In

addition, three of its towns have been declared National Heritage sites by UNESCO: Alcala de

Henares, El Escorial, and Aranjuez.

5-Urban Space and Landscape.

The urban growth has not maintained the traditional compact city paradigm, with homes and

commercial activities and services intermingled, but it has rather increasingly followed the

expansive city model, consuming considerable land and showing little regard for theenvironment. Due to the fact that a new strategy should be considered, the Government

decided call for experts advice on implementing some new guidelines. The final project

sponsored by the Madrid City Council through the Department of Planning and Housing, is the

result of work done by a multidisciplinary team led by architect and urban planner Jos Mara

Ezquiaga, Juan Herreros and Salvador Prez Arroyo, with the collaboration of government and

district boards, academics, institutions or professionals. It has been awarded the first European

Prize Urban and Regional Planning. In the words of the jury, "the project demonstrates a

convincing strategy for urban regeneration", and particularly appreciates the treatment of the

issues of scale, "as the paper addresses issues from climate change to the workings of a

metropolitan center." It works on the transformation and recycling of the existent city, taking

public space as the key organizing element, and identity reference to create connections with

the citizens.

6-Sustainability and Energy Rehabilitation.

The city of Madrid counts on 16 square meters of green space per inhabitant, very superior to

the 10 square meters recommended by the World Health Organization. It is also the second

city in the world with most trees in its streets (around 300,000). But according to data from the

Observatory of Sustainability in Spain (2007), the ecological footprint of the city, defined in


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absolute terms (hectares of land required in order to bear the environmental impacts

generated) was close on 5.5 million hectares. These figures are not positive and there is a

special need to the citys traffic problemsand reduce emissions.

7-Mobility and accessibility.

The mobility model for Madrid must focus on reducing the use of private vehicles for both

enforced and voluntary travel. To this end a Low Emissions Area should be created (similar to

that employed in cities such as Berlin), along with the closure of certain zones to road traffic

and the promotion of more rational vehicle use. Madrid has one of the best metro systems in

the world, and we should take this into account. Bicycle lanes should also have a clearer

presence in the city. Fortunately, there is an increasing awareness on the importance of havinga city centre with more pedestrian only spaces.

8-Intelligent Management and Knowledge Society. Smart Madrid.

Incorporate ICT in every aspect of daily life: education, health, provision of municipal services,

etc. Develop smart grids in urban services, housing, mobility and security. Promote open

government and the use of ICT in the administrative processes of the City Council, the districts

and their relationship with citizens. Some projects are going on but there is still a great need to

reduce paperwork and make procedures in a more efficient way.


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9-Cultural Identity.

Madrid is quite a melting pot with citizens coming from all over Spain and quite a significant

amount of foreigners. It seems a very open city that welcomes everybody.

10-City and Sport.

Madrid Ro project has also been awarded with the International Architecture Award 2012 by

Chicago Atheneaum. It represents a good investment to unite sports facilities, green urban

spaces and connecting different areas within Madrid. In my opinion, it is a perfect example of

how to deal with a future city.
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