Reconstruction plan for Precious Seeds, Oworonshoki

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Reconstruction plan for Precious Seeds, Oworonshoki

Mismatches Functional adequacy Services Diversity Vulnerable groups
Policies and regulations Local policies Planning Global frameworks Governance
Urban Design Liveability Inclusion Equity
Promotion and production Favelas/Slums

Main objectives of the project

The reconstruction scheme for Precious Seed in Oworonshoki focuses on simplicity, affordability, and modularity, promoting sustainable community rebuilding. With features like a one-room house with a veranda, vertical farming elements, and Mobile Dry Diversion Toilets (MDDT), the project emphasizes protection, efficient use of limited resources, and community empowerment. The large roofs provide essential shelter, creating a blend of private and public spaces. The initiative, costing around 1,120 US$ per house, fosters community cohesion, particularly through the formation of a women's group to lead the reconstruction based on local building codes, highlighting values of resilience, inclusivity, and strategic, incremental development.

Date

  • 2024: En proceso

Stakeholders

  • Architect: FABULOUS URBAN

Location

Continent: Africa
Country/Region: Lagos

Description

The reconstruction scheme for Precious Seed, a community in the Oworonshoki neighborhood severely impacted by state and local king-led demolitions, is marked by its simple, affordable, and modular design at all levels.

A one-room house with a veranda, vertical farming elements, and the well-tested Mobile Dry Diversion Toilet (MDDT) was developed. These houses can be combined into larger units depending on funding availability and plot size.

A key feature is the large roof, offering protection from the sun and rain in Lagos' year-round hot and humid climate. The roofs and stoops together create a graduated yet flowing space between private and public areas, maximizing the use of limited resources, including poverty constraints and small plot sizes.

Each house can be constructed for approximately 900 US$, the MDDT for about 200 US$, and the vertical farming mesh for 20 US$.

In 2024, the next steps involve establishing a strong, cohesive women's group dedicated to developing and implementing a strategic plan for community rebuilding, based on the guidelines from the Oworonshoki Local Building Code Project. Initially, a prototype house will be built, serving as a capacity-building tool for women. As the women's group becomes more established and additional funds are secured, the community will be incrementally reconstructed.

Transport for London housing units

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Transport for London housing units

Mismatches Vulnerable groups Demographic/Urban growth
Policies and regulations Local policies Land Building capacity Governance
Promotion and production Public promotion Public-private partnerships

Main objectives of the project

London's housing crisis, marked by a lack of affordable homes and escalating prices, has been intensified by the city's rapid population growth. Middle-income families and key workers face significant challenges in finding affordable accommodation. Transport for London (TfL) responded by establishing a property development function in 2012, later expanded in 2016 to address the housing crisis. TfL plans to develop 10,000 homes on its landholdings, focusing on mixed-use developments near transport hubs. By autumn 2019, TfL had secured permission for 3,500 homes and planned to submit applications for over 6,000 more. TfL's strategy effectively combines affordable housing initiatives with revenue generation for public transportation, underscoring its dual benefits.

Date

  • 2016: Implementation

Stakeholders

  • Promotor: Transport for London

Location

Continent: Europe
City: London
Country/Region: London, United Kingdom

Description

The housing crisis in London represents a significant and ongoing challenge, characterized by a severe shortage of affordable homes and escalating property prices. Over the past few decades, the city's population has surged, driven by its status as a global economic hub and cultural capital. However, this rapid population growth has not been matched by an equivalent increase in housing supply, leading to a substantial imbalance.

As a result, many Londoners struggle to find affordable accommodation, with middle-income families and key workers particularly affected. The cost of both renting and buying homes has soared, pushing many residents to the outskirts of the city or even beyond. Additionally, the availability of social and intermediate housing has not kept pace with demand, exacerbating issues of overcrowding and homelessness.

In 2012, Transport for London (TfL) established a property development function aimed at optimizing the use of its landholdings to generate revenue for reinvestment into the city's transport network. In 2016, under the direction of a new mayor, this remit was expanded to address London's intermediate housing crisis. Thus, TfL was set to increase the amount of afforadble housing units in the city. The 75-person property development team at TfL is responsible for building communities through mixed-use developments around transport hubs, and for increasing the supply of social and intermediate housing units.

TfL owns 5,700 acres across London, primarily in outer London and near the transport network. The team has identified over 300 acres suitable for 10,000 homes, with 50 percent of the portfolio allocated for intermediate housing units. TfL employs various delivery models, including direct development, joint ventures, and disposals, collaborating with local authorities, landowners, and the broader development industry on a site-by-site basis.

By autumn 2019, TfL had secured permission for 3,500 homes and had an additional 1,180 homes submitted for planning. In the following six to nine months, it aimed to apply for more than 6,000 homes. To ensure the quality of development, all projects are reviewed by the Mayor’s Design Advocates before planning approval is sought. This projects are calles “Small Site, Small Builders”,because they are located in specific, yet little plots in the city. However their impacts are huge, solving one of the central issues in the public agenda of Londoners.

In Morden, a south London neighborhood, TfL has combined its landholdings with those of Merton Council to create a 20-acre development opportunity near Morden tube station. This scheme will be funded by Merton Council, TfL, and the GLA’s land fund. The goal is to create a new town center that reflects evolving trends in living, working, and leisure, based on the principle of healthy streets. Forty percent of the 1,070 new residential units will be affordable housing. The scheme also aims to enhance the attractiveness of the local center by connecting Morden with its surrounding green spaces.

TfL's strategy is exemplary as it not only promotes affordable housing but also generates revenue to support public transportation. Additionally, it integrates public transport and sustainable mobility as key features of future communities residing in its housing developments.

Pla de Barris, Barcelona

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Pla de Barris, Barcelona

Mismatches Functional adequacy Services Cultural suitability Vulnerable groups Climate change
Policies and regulations Local policies Building capacity Global frameworks Governance Public-private initiatives

Main objectives of the project

The Pla de Barris in Barcelona adopts a holistic approach to affordable housing, emphasizing not only the refurbishment of housing and public spaces but also addressing economic and social justice issues within neighborhoods. Originating in the early 2000s and reimplemented in 2015 with a community-driven focus, the plan supports local initiatives with institutional help, fostering collective action. It integrates housing actions with economic development, educational opportunities, and social services to enable residents to afford their living costs. Currently, the AMB is preparing to expand this initiative to a metropolitan level, ensuring broader impact across the entire city.

Date

  • 2015: Implementation

Stakeholders

  • Foment de Ciutat
  • Ajuntament de Barcelona

Location

Continent: Europe
City: Barcelona
Country/Region: Barcelona, Spain

Description

When we speak about affordable housing, we often focus solely on the buildings. This brick-and-mortar perspective, while necessary, is only a small part of the whole issue. Dwelling is not just about having access to a housing unit with an affordable cost; it also involves having the opportunity to progress professionally and personally within the neighborhood, thereby being able to manage the cost of living. This is the logic behind "el Pla de Barris" (neighborhood plan) in Barcelona.

The Pla de Barris takes a holistic approach to addressing the needs of the most deprived areas in the city. While emphasizing the necessity of housing refurbishment and enhancement of public spaces, it also addresses the economic and social justice issues within neighborhoods. Thus, the plan combines housing initiatives with social policies.

The origin of the Pla de Barris dates back to the early 2000s, focusing on the need to foster investments in public spaces where vulnerable populations lived. However, after the 2008 crisis, the Pla de Barris was cut off due to budgetary reasons. In 2015, it was reimplemented with a different perspective. Now, the Pla de Barris is community-driven, centering on actions that the community can implement themselves with institutional support. Hence, it has transformed into a collective action policy. For example, despite its investment in housing refurbishment, it does so with a holistic approach. While the public administration typically just offers a grant, the Pla de Barris also provides the tools for the community to manage the grant and implement the project (see “Finques d’Alta Complexitat” on this same website).

Additionally, living in a neighborhood means having the earnings to pay for your house and expenses. For this reason, the latest Pla de Barris emphasizes the need to foster economic development projects, educational opportunities, and social services. In addition, it puts the climate resilience of housing and neighbourhoods as a central objective, adapting the most vulnerable to the climate challenge in their homes and environments.

The Pla de Barris operates within the municipality of Barcelona. However, the AMB, the metropolitan government, is now preparing the metropolitan Pla de Barris, so that investments can be scaled to the required dimension, impacting the entire city.

Downtown rehabilitation of Santiago de Compostela, Spain

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Downtown rehabilitation of Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Mismatches Services Cultural suitability
Policies and regulations Local policies Global frameworks
Urban Design Modelos De Ciudad Urban fabrics Environments Quality Liveability

Main objectives of the project

Santiago de Compostela, the historic capital of Galicia, faces the challenge of rehabilitating its medieval centre, protecting its heritage and avoiding the displacement of residents due to the influx of pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago. Since the 1990s, a comprehensive programme has improved housing, facilities and public spaces, prioritising residential use and creating green corridors and pedestrian areas. These initiatives, financed in part by public-private partnerships, have raised the quality of life and fostered greater cultural identification and heritage conservation.

Date

  • 1994: Implementation

Stakeholders

  • Concello de Santiago de Compostela

Location

Continent: Europe
Country/Region: Spain

Description

Santiago de Compostela, the capital of Galicia, a region within Spain, is a medium-sized but ancient city. It has about 100,000 inhabitants. Known especially for being the final destination of the Camino de Santiago, Compostela is one of the main destinations for the Catholic community. This attracts many pilgrims and visitors, which has an impact on housing prices. This is particularly noticeable in its centre, where it faces the challenge of rehabilitating very old houses (some of medieval origin), protecting the heritage and ensuring that neighbours are not displaced. Hence, in the 1990s, a comprehensive rehabilitation programme was put in place, which sought to act on housing, neighbourhoods and neighbourhood support policies to enable a thriving city centre.

The main objective of the upgrading and recovery actions in the historic centre of Santiago has been to stabilise and improve the quality of life of the resident population. Therefore, the interventions have prioritised residential use as the central objective in the historic city, implementing comprehensive housing rehabilitation programmes.

These actions have been complemented by improvements in facilities and public space in various dimensions, such as the integration of peri-urban green spaces (corridors connecting the centre with the rural landscape) and the creation of a pedestrian priority zone. These strategies have increased the consideration of the centre as a meeting space. The strategic role of the historic centre as a space for residents is a topic of contemporary debate on historic centres which, in this case, has had a positive impact, contributing to improving the quality of the historic centre.

In addition, its environmental dimension is notable, with the integration of new green corridors in a compact historic environment, as well as the public-private partnership in its financing. Finally, the impact of the interventions has transcended the physical, as, together with the collaboration of a diverse network of agents, it has promoted the cultural identification of the heritage of the historic centre by the citizens, which has improved the quality of maintenance and a conscious use of the areas of the historic centre.

Polígono Sur, Sevilla, Spain

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Polígono Sur, Sevilla, Spain

Mismatches Location Vulnerable groups
Policies and regulations Local policies Governance
Urban Design Modelos De Ciudad Urban fabrics Environments Quality Liveability

Main objectives of the project

The urban regeneration of Seville's Polígono Sur has been an ongoing process focused on revitalising one of the municipality's most vulnerable neighbourhoods. Actions include the improvement of housing, the urbanisation of abandoned areas, the creation of car parks and green spaces, and the improvement of accessibility. In addition, strategies have been implemented to encourage economic development through the incorporation of support facilities and training schemes. The improvement of public space has been key to promoting community identity and the integration of the neighbourhood with its surroundings.

Date

  • 2020: Implementation
  • 2006: Implementation

Stakeholders

  • Sevilla City Hall

Location

Continent: Europe
Country/Region: Seville, Spain

Description

The urban regeneration of Seville's Polígono Sur, a process that has been going on for a long time, has focused on revitalising one of the most vulnerable neighbourhoods in the municipality, both in socio-economic terms and in terms of the quality of the buildings. The first project was launched in 2006. After the pandemic of 2020, further phases are being implemented.

Ongoing actions in this area have covered various lines of intervention. Improvements have been made to housing and public spaces, urbanising derelict areas, creating new surface car parks and green spaces, and improving accessibility in existing areas. At the moment, a 'pon' rehabilitation of empty homes is being carried out, guaranteeing access to social housing for the people of the neighbourhood, and the so-called "Central Vacuum" is being redeveloped as a large green lung.

Other strategies have been aimed at promoting the economic development of the neighbourhood, through the incorporation of support facilities (which facilitate the development of business activities and the consolidation of existing ones) and the implementation of plans for training and integration of the neighbourhood with its surroundings.

The strategy of improving the public space is particularly relevant for its intention to promote the community identity of the beginnings of the neighbourhood and its spatial and social openness towards the surrounding areas.

Urban regeneration of the Albaicín, Granada

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Urban regeneration of the Albaicín, Granada

Mismatches Cultural suitability Diversity
Policies and regulations Local policies Governance Public-private initiatives Participatory processes
Urban Design Environments

Main objectives of the project

The Albaicín, one of the most visited and touristically attractive neighbourhoods in Granada, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007. However, its deteriorated state of conservation, with serious situations of substandard housing, led to the development of the Integral Rehabilitation of the Albaicín project in 2002. This project seeks to improve the living conditions of the residents and revalue the historical and architectural heritage, affecting 5,007 dwellings and combining the characteristics of the historical centre with urban growth. The plan promotes social and cultural diversity, gender equality and covers equipment, mobility and security needs, involving citizens in technical and administrative solutions.

Date

  • 2002: Implementation

Stakeholders

  • Granada City Hall

Location

Continent: Europe
Country/Region: Granada, Spain

Description

The Albaicín is a neighbourhood located in the centre of Granada. It is one of the most visited and most touristic, with a high heritage value, classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since 2007. However, its state of conservation, including serious situations of substandard housing, motivated the development of the project for the Integral Rehabilitation of the Albaicín. This project, initiated in 2002, seeks to improve both the living conditions of the residents and to revalue and recover parts of the historical and architectural heritage.

To this end, the plan establishes a comprehensive intervention affecting 5,007 dwellings, combining the unique characteristics of the historic centre with the growth of the urban fabric. The plan also focuses on maintaining the social and cultural diversity of the ethnic minorities present in the neighbourhood and promoting gender equality, while considering the needs of the inhabitants in terms of facilities, mobility and perception of safety.

The uniqueness of both the urban landscape and the architectural typologies in an environment with a high identity value makes it necessary to incorporate citizen participation in order to implement feasible solutions at a technical and administrative level in cooperation with the neighbours. The creation of a regeneration office to accompany the inhabitants and other actors in the process has been key to the development of the plan.

All of this has allowed the establishment of a "culture of rehabilitation" that has made possible the realisation of projects of high architectural quality with an impact on a larger urban scale, as is the case of the Kuna House, an example of contemporary architecture rooted in the particularities of the place. Casa Kuna is a sustainable community space in the centre of Granada, revitalising an empty 150 m² space. The project focuses on the sale of recycled second-hand goods and local craft workshops, encouraging coexistence between vulnerable groups and residents of the Albaicín. It has created opportunities and improved neighbourhood relations through workshops and training, responding to the growing discontent in the neighbourhood.

Thus the project demonstrates not only the need for housing rehabilitation for vulnerable groups, but also the importance of opening up community spaces, where people can meet and work together. Moreover, to do so in a space where the circular economy is encouraged.

La Mina Neighbourhood Transformation Plan, Barcelona

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La Mina Neighbourhood Transformation Plan, Barcelona

Mismatches Vulnerable groups
Policies and regulations Local policies Planning Governance Participatory processes
Urban Design Modelos De Ciudad Environments Quality Liveability Participatory processes
Promotion and production Public promotion

Main objectives of the project

La Mina, a neighbourhood in Sant Adrià del Besòs, faced high vulnerability due to its original design and socio-demographic characteristics. To reverse this, the La Mina Neighbourhood Transformation Plan ("Plan de Transformación del barrio de La Mina", in Spanish), managed by the Consorcio del Barrio de La Mina, combined management and funding models to carry out physical and socio-economic interventions. The rehabilitation of buildings to improve energy efficiency and accessibility, and the improvement of open spaces to ensure universal accessibility stand out. Institutional collaboration and citizen participation have been key to achieving coherent and effective interventions in the neighbourhood.

Date

  • 2002: En proceso

Stakeholders

  • Promotor: Consorci de la Mina
  • Promotor: INCASOL
  • Sant Adrià del Besós

Location

City: Barcelona
Country/Region: Barcelona, Spain

Description

La Mina is a neighbourhood located in the municipality of Sant Adrià del Besòs, characterised as a housing estate. Born in the mid-20th century, it was created to relocate the majority of the population that lived in the shantytowns of Somorrostro beach and other areas of the city of Barcelona. The original design of the area, together with certain socio-demographic characteristics and its location almost at the end of the Besòs river, led to a situation of high vulnerability that still persists. To reverse this situation, the "La Mina Neighbourhood Transformation Plan" was implemented, managed by the La Mina Neighbourhood Consortium. This plan has combined different management and funding models over time, focusing on two lines of action: a series of physical interventions that support socio-economic ones.

Within the interventions in the built environment, the opening of axes to improve the road network, the increase of accessibility and the provision of new facilities stand out. Particularly noteworthy are the rehabilitation of residential buildings constructed with prefabricated processes, which needed improvements in energy efficiency and accessibility, such as those located in the neighbourhood of La Mina Vieja. Improving the accessibility of buildings is synergistically related to improvements in open spaces, generating new areas that guarantee universal accessibility at the urban level. In addition, institutional collaboration and citizen participation, together with the comprehensive management of the process by the Consorcio del Barrio de La Mina, have made it possible to establish interventions that present a coherent image in the different areas intervened.

Thus, a large Rambla has been opened in the centre of the neighbourhood, new community facilities and spaces have been opened... In addition, progress has been made with INCASOL, the Catalan public housing developer, in the construction of social housing, where families from the so-called Venus Block, one of the blocks of flats pending demolition, will be rehoused in the future.

Integral Plan for the Serra d'en Mena, Barcelona

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Integral Plan for the Serra d'en Mena, Barcelona

Mismatches Cultural suitability Vulnerable groups
Policies and regulations Local policies Planning Governance Participatory processes
Urban Design Modelos De Ciudad Urban fabrics Services and infrastructure Environments Quality Liveability Inclusion Equity

Main objectives of the project

In Santa Coloma de Gramenet (Barcelona), near the Besós river, an ambitious rehabilitation project is being carried out in the Serra d'en Mena area. This plan seeks to improve the quality of life of the residents, many of whom are elderly and have limited resources, facing problems of energy poverty and structural deficiencies in their homes. The intervention includes improvements in the energy efficiency of the buildings, complex negotiations between the local administration and the communities of owners, and social projects such as the time bank to strengthen community cohesion.

Date

  • 2007: En proceso

Stakeholders

  • Santa Coloma de Gramanet City Council

Location

City: Barcelona
Country/Region: Barcelona, Spain

Description

The area of action is located in Santa Coloma de Gramenet, a municipality in the province of Barcelona close to the Besós river park. The Besós axis is known to be one of the most vulnerable areas in Spain and with the highest concentration of challenges in the metropolitan area of Barcelona. For years, efforts have been intensified in comprehensive neighbourhood rehabilitations in this area, which spans five municipalities and faces various social, natural and urban barriers.

The Serra d'en Mena plan focuses on the rehabilitation of an area that includes 360 dwellings and 26 premises, mostly built between 1968 and 1974 during a period of disorganised urban growth that caused multiple problems. One of the main objectives is to improve the quality of life and health of the residents, many of whom are elderly people with low pensions and suffer from fuel poverty due to inefficient housing.

These neighbourhoods, located on the municipal border with Badalona, have a vulnerable and ageing population, as well as significant structural deficits such as the lack of lifts and accessibility for people with reduced mobility. The location on a mountain aggravates the problems of accessibility on foot and by public transport, in addition to the deficiencies in terms of the healthiness of the dwellings. The plan aims to reverse all of this by improving the urban space, making it accessible, and acting on the housing in the neighbourhoods (some of which are in a critical situation of substandard housing and unhealthy conditions).

To address these challenges, a public intervention has been implemented in several phases, focusing on improving the interior comfort of the buildings and revitalising the identity and urban landscape. This process has required complex management and negotiations with the owners' communities to reach agreements on funding and intervention. In addition, social projects such as the time bank have been launched to involve citizens.

It is remarkable how improvements in the energy efficiency of residential structures not only improve the comfort of residents, but also have a positive impact on the perception of the urban landscape and the quality of life in the urban environment.

Neighborhood regeneration of Santa Adela, Granada

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Neighborhood regeneration of Santa Adela, Granada

Mismatches Vulnerable groups
Policies and regulations Local policies Regulation Global frameworks Governance Participatory processes

Main objectives of the project

Santa Adela, a neighbourhood that emerged on the southern outskirts of Granada in the late 1950s after the 1956 earthquake, has faced construction problems due to its rapid development. Now one of the most densely populated neighbourhoods in the city, it has been the subject of a comprehensive urban reform plan that seeks to improve the habitability and quality of life of its residents without displacing the original inhabitants. Public intervention has included the renovation and reconstruction of residential areas, the rehabilitation of existing buildings with a focus on energy efficiency and accessibility, as well as socio-educational programmes and participatory processes.

Date

  • 2000: En proceso

Stakeholders

  • Granada City Hall

Location

Continent: Europe
Country/Region: Granada, Spain

Description

Santa Adela, a neighbourhood on the southern outskirts of Granada, emerged in the late 1950s in response to the 1956 earthquake in the city, initially housing the victims. Despite its peripheral origin, it has become one of the most densely populated neighbourhoods in Granada, although it presents construction pathologies due to the urgency of its development.

The urban reform plan in Santa Adela seeks primarily to improve the habitability and quality of life of its residents, promoting social integration and socio-economic revitalisation without displacing the former inhabitants. A comprehensive public intervention has been implemented in five areas, including the renovation through demolition and reconstruction of some residential areas, as well as the rehabilitation of existing buildings in a better state of conservation, with a focus on energy efficiency and accessibility. These physical actions are complemented by socio-educational programmes and participatory processes that ensure the inclusion of residents in identifying the needs of the environment.

The combination of interventions ranging from demolition of part of the urban fabric to rehabilitations, together with participatory processes, stands out as one of the most significant aspects of this initiative. This approach has been possible thanks to a collaborative management between local social entities and the public administration, which has adapted the financing schemes to the socio-economic reality of the area's residents.

Regeneration of the seafront of Gijon, Spain

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Regeneration of the seafront of Gijon, Spain

Policies and regulations Local policies Planning
Urban Design Modelos De Ciudad Urban fabrics Environments Quality Liveability

Main objectives of the project

Gijón's seafront, previously marked by irregular urban sprawl and poor housing conditions, has undergone a significant transformation thanks to the collaboration between the city council and the Municipal Foundation for Social Services. Programmes such as the Plan de Erradicación del Chabolismo (1984) and the Plan General de Ordenación Urbana (1985) have rehoused residents of irregular settlements in decent housing, improving diversity and social integration and revitalising the seafront. In addition, new public spaces have been created, especially in heritage areas such as Cimadevilla, and a transition to a service economy has been promoted, all through effectively integrated planning tools.

Date

  • 1984: En proceso

Stakeholders

  • Gijon City Council

Location

Continent: Europe
Country/Region: Gijón, Spain

Description

The situation of Gijón's seafront was characterised by irregular urban sprawl and poor living conditions. Faced with this panorama, the city council, in collaboration with the Fundación Municipal de Servicios Sociales, implemented a series of programmes aimed at improving the urban fabric and eliminating irregular settlements in the area. These programmes included the Plan de Erradicación del Chabolismo (1984) and the Plan General de Ordenación Urbana (1985), both aimed at revalorising the area.

As a result of these strategies, a dynamic of displacement began, re-housing the residents of these settlements in "decent quality" housing integrated into the urban fabric. This process has promoted increased diversity and social integration, as well as improving the city's waterfront.

Likewise, new public spaces have been transformed and created, trying to keep the local population in the same areas, especially in areas with greater heritage value such as the old Fishermen's quarter of Cimadevilla. This intervention has had a multiple impact, managing to eradicate shantytowns, improve living conditions and the habitability of the urban environment, and establish new environments that have renewed the façade of the city.

In addition, the economic transformation of Gijón towards a service economy has begun. All these strategies have been developed through a series of admirably integrated planning tools.