Urban renewal through settlement of guest families. A alternative to expansion of Santiago de Chile

Abstract

Chile has implemented a stable funding policy to access lowincomehousing for more than two decades. Thus, due to itsachievements reducing the housing deficit the country isconsidered to be a reference. But, which is the cost? Houseshave been built but the city has not. Design and constructionstandards are quite poor and low-income housing is placed inghettos located in the outskirts of the city.
Considering these and other deficiencies, the Government hasrestructured the country’s low-income housing policy to driveinnovating projects of renewal and densification of urbanneighborhoods. Responding to this initiative the School ofArchitecture of the Universidad Católica de Chile, hasdeveloped projects that intend to answer the followingqueries: Which is the city we want? What kind of housing isneeded? How does the beneficiary get involved in theproduction process?
The pilot project «Renovación de las Poblaciones mediante laRadicación de Allegados» (Urban Renewal through Settlementof Guest Families) is the implementation of a several yearsacademic experience in the subject. The strategy consists inthe construction of a new housing unit for the guest familywithin the lot where they already live in poor conditions,without the need for a new lot they would have to buysomewhere else. Therefore, they can invest the total amount ofthe housing subsidy using the exiting infrastructure, and makeit possible for the residents to stay in their neighborhoods andreinforce the social network.
In addition, this project caused a significant change in thebuilding codes and regulations that allow more flexible designrequirements for the second housing unit built in an existinglot. This change is a breakthrough that will benefit all thefuture projects aiming to increase the neighborhood’s density.