New Books Network Pablo Meninato and Gregory Marinic, "Urban Labyrinths: Informal Settlements, Architecture, and Social Change in Latin America" (Routledge, 2025)
Oct 31, 2025
Pablo Meninato, an Associate Professor at Temple University and an expert in Latin American architecture and urbanism, dives deep into the dynamics of informal settlements across five major cities. He discusses the innovative Favela-Bairro program in Rio, Medellín's phased Social Urbanism, and Tijuana's NGO-led community initiatives. Meninato emphasizes the need for community respect in urban planning, the balance of aesthetics with social programs, and the significance of secure tenure for residents. His insights illuminate how design can influence social change in these vibrant communities.
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Why Latin America Became A Focus
- Informal-settlement interventions surged in Latin America from the 1990s as democracy returned and cities sought new urban strategies.
- The authors selected five cities to capture geographic and methodological variety across the region.
Favela-Bairro: A Participatory Pilot
- Rio's Favela-Bairro program ran municipal competitions with multidisciplinary teams and required resident surveys and consultations.
- Designers had to include planners, engineers, sociologists and social workers in their proposals.
Medellín's Phased Urban Strategy
- Medellín's Social Urbanism adapted Rio's phased approach but emphasized incremental infrastructure first and public facilities later.
- Long-term maintenance and political pride helped Medellín sustain interventions better than some larger cities.