Ciudad vital, una propuesta de espacios publicos urbanos seguros y vitales para cali, colombia

Safety is a major concern in Colombia and a national policy directive has been issued for municipalities such as Cali. This policy acknowledges the relationship which exists between the construction of the built environment and safety; thus allocating important resources towards the renewal of public urban spaces within the city. The local government has asked architects for advice on how to provide safe urban spaces without creating fortress like environments. Based on Jane Jacobs’ (1961) vital city, this research aims to provide physically viable urban spaces while bridging the gap between safety and urban life. This research is based on the hypothesis that greater vitality in urban spaces leads to an increased perception of security. Evidence shows that not all spaces create positive effects in terms of security perception; therefore, there is the need to first identify the main environmental and social factors to be found in Cali’s urban public spaces that most affect the perception of security in order to harmoniously integrate security in the design process. This work would give continuity to a research that was conducted last year in Palmira, which identified cleanliness, movement of people, extension of working hours and gender as the environmental and social factors that most affected perception of security in this context. a new research in Cali would corroborate the information of Palmira, helping to expand the body of knowledge on safe yet vital public spaces in the region of the Valle del Cauca. This research targets architects, urban planners and local governments that are interested in searching for alternatives of urban renewal that incorporate security based on a more vital and sustainable model.