Bulevar de Oriente The project transformed a degraded wastewater channel into a green corridor, reducing urban fragmentation and strengthening-social fabric through participatory design
- Nationality
- Colombia
- Group
- Alcuadrado Arquitectos SAS
About Project
In Cali, Colombia, the Aguablanca district suffered severe degradation after rivers were diverted into artificial drainage channels in the 1970s. This led to land erosion, the expansion of informal settlements, and growing environmental fragmentation. For decades, the abandoned canal — known as the “Scars of the East” — stood as a symbol of urban division.
The Bulevar de Oriente Project has transformed a 47,961 m² stretch of this canal into a 1.2 km-long green corridor. More than a simple drainage restoration, the project was designed with an integrated strategy across environmental, urban, and social dimensions, guided by three principles: Reclaim (environmental memory), Integrate (daily life), and Activate (community activity).
Today, the space functions as a multifunctional platform connecting sustainable mobility, ecological restoration, and local economic development, directly benefiting over 130,000 residents. Public art as an open-air gallery, dance workshops, and community gardens are run by locals, bringing culture and vitality into everyday life. Through these initiatives, marginalized communities have regained dignity and pride.
The project was advanced through participatory design and governance. Visions articulated in resident workshops shaped the master plan, while public, private, and community stakeholders share responsibility for long-term stewardship.
Ultimately, Bulevar de Oriente is not mere infrastructure repair. It is a model that heals urban wounds by combining social justice and ecological restoration. It offers a replicable paradigm for regenerating marginalized urban spaces elsewhere in the world.