In Medellín, Colombia, the transformation of a main boulevard into a pop-up pedestrian space is a key example of how LQC strategies can pave the way for more extensive urban visions. Between November 26, 2014 and January 30, 2015, a group of organizers hosted Días de Playa (“Beach Days”) as a way of introducing the corridor as a new kind of community destination. Swaths of asphalt were covered over with sand and filled with potted palms, beach chairs, and inflatable pools for children, and programming for the event included yoga, sewing, movies, lectures, holiday vendors, and various local art installations. Beyond its contribution to residents’ sense of community and place, Días de Playa would also reap year-round benefits for the local economy. The project’s diverse partnerships between city agencies and local business owners helped make a strong case for city funding, and eventually helped to push the plan up through city administration. Although the campaign, hindered by election year politics, was unable to generate a long-term redesign, the city did adopt LQC strategies for additional projects around Medellín.

Photo credits, from left: Días de Playa via Facebook, Juan Camilo Lopez, Lorena Acevedo

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