Urban Permeability in Medellín: Case Studies of Santo Domingo Savio and El Poblado

Abstract

This chapter considers the concept of “permeability” to offer an interpretation of Medellín's urban and social transformation that took place during the last few decades. Permeability is understood as a gradient which fluctuates between the hermetic and the porous. It is expressed in the city's architectural, environmental, and social infrastructure. With its tropical climate, mountainous topography, and deeply inequitable society, Medellín has become an assemblage of contrastingly different urban zones. The north features the self-built, working-class informal neighborhoods, while in the south, there are high-class areas with tall, free-standing buildings. Separating both zones are middle-class neighborhoods with mid-rise buildings. An analytical comparison of these urban and social zones in relation to permeability allows us to evaluate the intense transformation processes that this city has been experiencing.