Understanding Change

Bogotá is a city that has seen rapid change in the recent years. By the 1990’s the city’s public space was in crisis. However, a politically driven set of changes began to happen and an urban renaissance of the city originated. Multiple public spaces, libraries, schools, and new transportation systems were built and implemented by different city Mayors. At present, after the initial thrill and polemics, some of the major changes have settled. This situation makes it a good moment to develop an analysis of the performance of these public spaces today, in order to understand how they have evolved. The Plaza de San Victorino was one of the major renovation projects that the city underwent in 2000. Its analysis is representative of the evolution of Bogota’s public spaces during these years. This book makes an assessment from the point of view of the users of the Plaza. By using participant observations, mappings and surveys, the author makes a Post-occupancy evaluation of the Plaza and generates a set of design recommendations and a design proposal for its improvement. This book may be useful for those interested in the evolution of architectural and urban interventions in time.