Colombia Passport

Major Alonso Salazar makes lobby in Spain to present Medellín as the next headquarters of the 7^th Ibero-American Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism 2010. The Paisa leader of the second largest Colombian city is visiting the Ministry of Housing in Madrid, where he introduces Medellín as an example of social urbanism.

The concept of social urbanism is the idea of integrate the different communities of any city through the rescue of public space, housing and different architectural proposals. Medellín, considered in the 1990s as one of the top criminal cities of the world, is living a renascence, especially after the government of former Major Sergio Fajardo, who conquered the most marginalized and violent communities through urbanism and community integration.

Major Salazar continues with the idea of making the city a safe, peaceful and progressive place with projects of architecture and urbanism that give opportunities to all citizens.

Medellín as headquarters of the 2010 Biennale, proposed to the Ibero-American community of architects how social urbanism in the most marginalized areas has developed the communities in the last years, reducing violence and organized crime.

The Biennale 2010 in Medellín will consist of expositions, competitions, rewards to works of architecture, presentation of projects and publications, conferences and social events.

In the city, urbanism and architecture have proven to be a way to conquer peace in realities of social chaos, the integration of cultural and social elements and the hope to open ways for development. The city has a great offer of natural parks, museums, libraries, transportation, hotels and many other spaces that integrate all the social classes and give best opportunities to its people.