What urban and social transformations do our cities require today? How can urban planning and design contribute to improving the experience of their inhabitants in urban spaces? As Andreea Cutieru explains, urban acupuncture refers to the improvement of social and urban issues through precise interventions capable of revitalizing specific areas of cities and consolidating urban planning strategies. The +VIDA program represents a comprehensive strategy for urban and social transformation in territories, strategically focused on vulnerable populations in the Colombian Caribbean. It encourages the collective construction of cities through the exchange of knowledge, intelligence, and expertise, with the aim of transforming the habitat in an integrated manner.
Following the line of thought of urban planner and politician Jaime Lerner, effective urban acupuncture is consolidated around any intervention with a positive impact on the city, involving anything from new facilities, restored existing buildings, and unique urban projects to complex decision-making or new customs. In the pursuit of achieving balance in cities, the practice of acupuncture is based on equity, coexistence and social cohesion, sustainable development, livability, culture, urban education, and the conservation and rehabilitation of historical and popular heritage, among other aspects.
