Cultural Shores of Paipa, Colombia
Urban Design Capstone
Introduction
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The studio, a collaborative effort between the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Los Andes, focused on urban-rural redevelopment in Paipa, Colombia. The 2024 Urban Design Capstone Studio brought together the expertise of faculty and students from both institutions to address the unique challenges and opportunities in Paipa. It involved interactions with the Mayor of Paipa as well as the community.
Paipa, located in the Boyacá Department of central Colombia, lies in the Andean Region about three hours from Bogota. This town is a prime tourism destination, surrounded by mountains and featuring numerous lakes, canals, and famous hot springs. At an altitude of 2525 meters, Paipa enjoys a temperate climate with an average temperature of 14° Celsius. Historically agricultural, its economy now thrives on tourism, salt recovery, and wellness services.
The framework centers itself upon 3 fundamental cornerstones: resiliency, equity and connectivity while weaving them together with the common thread of preserving the wellness of the town, its residents and its ecosystem.
Paipa is expecting significant population growth over the next 30 years, with a 50% expected increase by 2050, which requires 3000 additional housing units. Given the difficult development conditions in the northern part of town owing to the hilly terrain, much of the proposed development is along the southern edge. The priority of the master plan is to revitalize these natural resources by leveraging them as natural boundaries to guide urban growth. The new urban grids will infill the gap between the lake and the town.
The site is located towards the southeastern part of the town. This particular section of the lakefront represents the sole area where residents can readily engage with the lake, as the remainder of the surrounding land is predominantly occupied by hotels or privately owned properties. The location of the site along the Sochagota Lake provides tremendous potential in terms of providing waterfront recreational and community-centered spaces for Paipa’s residents and visitors.
Proposal
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The vision for the project is to transform Paipa into a model of sustainable development by integrating mixed-use development with ecological richness and a vibrant economy. This approach aims to create a cohesive community that thrives on the synergy between its rural and urban elements, prioritizing walkability and connecting people with the natural environment. It also promotes an active public realm. The proposal addresses key challenges in Paipa, such as the excessive reliance on unsustainable paramo agriculture and a significant shortage of social housing, while aiming to rejuvenate the Muisca indigenous culture. Site-specific concerns, such as restricted access along Calle 25 to Sochagota Lake and the inefficient use of vacant lands and event spaces, are also tackled.
The site plan strategically combines mixed-income housing, community amenities, and lush green spaces into a pedestrian-centric network. This network enhances cultural heritage and promotes robust community interaction. It aims to foster a sustainable, walkable community that thrives on mixed-use development and ecological richness, ensuring a balanced and harmonious urban-rural integration for the residents of Paipa.
The proposal centers on three broad site strategies: street network, open space, and built form. Firstly, connecting the existing and proposed road network to form a cohesive loop of thoroughfares by eliminating dead ends will enhance vehicular traffic flow, improve accessibility to bus stands proposed in the master plan, and overall site accessibility. Adjusting Calle 25 to incorporate proposed cultural assets along the lake will provide better access to the waterfront, while staggering the street can serve as a traffic-calming measure to ensure pedestrian safety. The creation of a hierarchical network of vehicular routes and pedestrian pathways, inspired by Paipa’s historic core layout and the Laws of the Indies, will solidify a cohesive loop of traffic and pedestrian movement. The grid in the southern part of the site will be tilted according to existing site features to ensure light reaches multiple parts of the building, following examples seen in cities like Los Angeles and Guadalajara.
In terms of open space strategies, the proposal aims to activate the lakefront by creating vibrant spaces that connect residents and visitors to the water. A central pedestrian spine will link the lake and waterfront spaces to inland areas, while open spaces along the Chicamocha River will integrate urban farming to reduce reliance on paramo ecosystems. Additionally, smaller community green spaces will provide ample recreational areas within neighborhood blocks.
For the built form, a tourism district along the waterfront will boost the local economy and showcase the town’s cultural heritage. Mid- and high-rise commercial and mixed-use development along Calle 25 will further support economic growth. The creek front pedestrian spine will include social infrastructure such as schools, childcare centers, food hubs, and studio spaces for a mixed-income community. To address housing needs, the proposal includes 650 units of low-rise mixed-income incremental housing designed to adapt to residents' evolving needs.
The innovative approach to mixed-income housing highlights the plug-in frame structure system that supports incremental growth and adapts to residents' evolving needs. The design features housing units organized around shared courtyards, enhancing community living and fostering inter-block pedestrian connectivity, which integrates seamlessly with essential services like childcare and small businesses, all within a sustainable urban framework.
The first section showcases the transformative strategy for Calle 25 and the adjoining lakefront area, emphasizing the integration of urban vibrancy and connectivity. The design features a lively lakefront promenade complemented by a cultural center that honors Muisca architectural heritage, with a focus on mixed-use developments along Calle 25 to enhance the urban experience. This approach revitalizes the area and strengthens the community’s connection to its cultural and natural resources.
Additionally, the creek is transformed into a vibrant pedestrian spine with mixed-income walk-up apartments, artisan studios, and workshop spaces to promote Paipa’s cultural arts and handicrafts. A major design intervention is the naturalization of the creek by removing concrete, potentially increasing its width, and planting vegetation along the banks. This change allows water to permeate through the soil, reduces stormwater runoff, and filters the water through plants, soils, and stream gravel for cleaner water flow, ultimately improving the environmental quality and aesthetic appeal of the area.
The revitalized creek can serve as the focal point of a dynamic pedestrian corridor, lined with diverse mix of uses showcasing Paipa's rich cultural heritage, and providing not just a connection of sochagota lake with the more inland residential areas, but also a connection of the lake with the Chicamocha river through this spine.
Conclusion
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In conclusion, the proposal is based on the foundation of bolstering a strong connection with the town’s rich natural and cultural history. The intent with this development was to provide waterfront revitalization that incorporates a mix of uses targeted at housing, economy and ecology. The proposal is an attempt to foster a stronger sense of community among Paipa’s residents while boosting local economy and tourism.
