UK-based engineering firm Arup has created a master plan for the renovation of Barranquilla city in Colombia.
The master plan will address issues like flooding, as the Barranquilla city centre lacks a cohesive stormwater management system and light precipitation, which leads to flooding across the city streets.
Arup also aims to address issues like improving green spaces, congestion and the lack of parking, pedestrian and cycling spaces. Arup’s strategic plan will enable the city to cope with growth while maintaining its historic centre and ensuring that it has sufficient environmental sustainability and climate change preparations.
The new plan is expected to focus on diversifying economic activities, improving the accessibility of public spaces and implementing a plan for social inclusion alongside the physical framework.
Other measures proposed include the creation of urban mobility and bike paths, infrastructure with permeable surfaces, the creation of flood protection zones and branding the historic centre as a cultural and tourism destination.
“It gives us the opportunity to explore further the ideas of city planning, based on resilient urban strategies and smart mobility systems.”
Arup project director Pablo Lazo said: “We are very excited about this plan and the future of Barranquilla because it gives us the opportunity to explore further the ideas of city planning, based on resilient urban strategies and smart mobility systems.” Arup’s master plan considers the city’s infrastructure, transportation, mobility, sustainability, financing and implementation.
The project was part-funded by The Prosperity Fund of the Government of the United Kingdom (the Prosperity Fund), while the Colombian development agency La Financiera del Desarrollo Territorial (FINDETER) also provided funding and managed the project for the Prosperity Fund.