182 and the investment in the formal
Learning from Cities— The 2nd Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation
identity and diversity.
schooling system has continued. In
The Educational Parks program
addition, concern for sustainability has
should be considered revolutionary.
been expressed and managed by building
Aspects of the program are based on
a public-private institutional framework to
experiences in Medellin (when Fajardo
guarantee public funds and co-financing,
was mayor), where building urban
to establish long-term alliances and to
infrastructure like Park Libraries in
insist on the continual social mobilization
marginal areas of the city catalyzed a
and appropriation of each Park.
number of social processes. However, the
Practice and Innovation 1.Revolutionary Innovation
More than just buildings, the Educational Parks are conceived as public places for citizens of the 21st Century, a model for building capacities and opportunities through education. The formal and alternative educational programs that will be developed within these spaces will promote science, technology, research, innovation, connectivity, and entrepreneurship, as well as develop cultural and artistic practices as a means for enhancing citizenship, diversity and identity. Each Park, between 500-600 square meters in size, has been designed by national architects of all ages who competed to be part of the process, and thus gives each municipality a unique identity. Each design was considered with various community who “dreamt their park”, building on notions of local
□ Citizens in the Antioquia have a better understanding of Park Culture through community activities