The Best of Ciudad Emergente 2024
2024 has been a year of significant progress and collaborations for Ciudad Emergente. From working with partners like Google to reclaim urban spaces, to revitalizing Santiago’s iconic Alameda, we have continued to drive sustainable projects, expand our partnerships, and reinforce our commitment to the positive transformation of urban environments.
Here’s a recap of the best of Ciudad Emergente in 2024.
Santiago Zero Carbon: A Laboratory for Tech-Driven Climate Solutions
Did you know that Santiago needs to reduce 20 million tons of annual emissions to achieve carbon neutrality?
To move towards this goal, we launched Santiago Zero Carbon in collaboration with Google, showcasing how technology can help accelerate and promote the carbon neutrality of our cities.
During the Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications' Mobility Week, we intervened on Agustinas Street, degrading 30 tons of CO₂ — equivalent to planting 220 trees. We also restored part of the Paseo Bandera’s urban furniture, benefiting the 88,000 daily pedestrians, and promoted innovative climate technologies like Google Environmental Insights, Google Flood Hub, and Google Maps to enable better decision-making and city planning to reduce emissions and accelerate climate action.
Check out our project and relive our campaign on social media alongside Zorrito Hook here!
Clean and Safe Quilicura: Transforming Illegal Dumpsites into Gathering Spaces
This year, we launched the “Clean and Safe Quilicura” program in partnership with Google, the Municipality of Quilicura, Finis Terrae University, and key allies, engaging social organizations, academia, and businesses. The goal: to transform illegal dumpsites into clean and safe public spaces through a three-step process: (1) Participatory cleanups, (2) Tactical activations, (3) Final project design. We removed 180 tons of waste, degraded 12 tons of CO₂, recycled 25% of the recovered materials, and designed an Environmental Education Center for Quilicura.
Discover the process in this short film here!
Metropolitan Bike Lane: Sustainable Mobility at the Heart of Nueva Alameda
At the start of 2024, tactical urbanism took over the Alameda to pilot the Metropolitan Bike Lane, part of the Nueva Alameda project, which aims to connect 8 kilometers of bike lanes from Pajaritos to Plaza Italia. During this demonstrative action, we engaged the community in designing and evaluating the infrastructure using participatory methodologies such as the Diagnostic Bike-Route and the Tree of Ideas. Additionally, we hosted an International Sustainable Mobility Seminar featuring renowned guests to showcase the outcomes of the participatory design process. Now we’re gearing up for the start of construction in February 2025.
Time to bike through the Nueva Alameda!
Nueva Alameda: Revitalizing Santiago's Most Iconic Avenue
Building on the progress made in 2023, this year we continued advancing the Nueva Alameda project, an initiative led by the Santiago Regional Government, the Government of Chile, and the municipalities of Santiago, Providencia, Lo Prado, and Estación Central to revitalize the city’s most important urban corridor.
This ambitious plan includes facade restoration, public space improvements, the construction of the Metropolitan Bike Lane, and the redesign of Plaza Italia and Parque Bueras, among other projects.
We organized the “Take Care of Alameda, Alameda Takes Care of You” event in the style of El Gran Malón, launched new activations along the corridor, and brought back the Nueva Alameda Mobile Unit to the streets to share updates and raise awareness about the program’s progress. These initiatives highlight our commitment to involving communities in the design and recovery of public spaces.
If transformation is possible on the Alameda, it’s possible across all of Santiago!
Urban 95 in Recoleta: Transforming Spaces for Children and Caregivers
Continuing our collaboration with the Van Leer Foundation and ARUP, we implemented a new pilot project for “Caring Neighborhoods” in Recoleta, based on the “Proximity of Care Guide”. We worked alongside Fundación Mustakis at San Felipe de Neri School to enhance the nearby public space, which serves as a daily meeting point.
Through participatory processes with children, caregivers, and teachers, we improved play infrastructure for kindergarten students, created a safe and comfortable space for caregivers, and promoted the right to the city and child participation.
Check out our initiative in this summary video here!
New Diploma in Tactical Urbanism and Incremental City Design: Universidad Católica and Ciudad Emergente
This year, we took a significant step forward by partnering with the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile to launch the Diploma in Tactical Urbanism and Incremental City Design, set to begin in 2025.
This program will leverage our experience and case studies to equip participants with practical tools to design, evaluate, and transform neighborhoods and cities in an agile, participatory, and incremental manner.
Our Executive Director, Javier Vergara Petrescu, leads this initiative alongside a team of renowned national and international experts.
We invite you to enroll or spread the word about this one-of-a-kind program here!
Social Investment Fund in Salamanca
In partnership with Minera Los Pelambres, we launched a new social investment program to implement ten community infrastructure and equipment projects in the Salamanca, Coquimbo Region.
A dedicated architecture and construction team from Ciudad Emergente is spearheading these works, with the first tenders awarded in 2024 and further progress planned for 2025.
Thanks to this Social Investment Fund in the Choapa Province, communities such as Jorquera, Coirón, and Tranquilla will benefit from high-quality sports fields and community centers, designed by Ciudad Emergente and the renowned architecture firm Elemental.
Social Investment Program in
La Ramayana with Aguas Pacífico
In 2024, we implemented the social investment program in La Ramayana, Olmué, in collaboration with Aguas Pacífico.
Through co-creation workshops with local residents, we defined several projects that were executed this year. These include; the improvement of the La Ramayana Sports Field, Infrastructure upgrades with solar energy equipment and a greenhouse for the La Ramayana school, the New La Ramayana Artisan Village, designed to boost tourism in this gem located along the Dormida Pass.
Reaching San Fernando, Freire, and Pitrufquén with
Dinámica and ISA Vías
In collaboration with Dinámica and ISA Vías, we supported the municipalities of San Fernando, Freire, and Pitrufquén this year, using tactical urbanism methodologies.
Alongside experts Tomás Cortese and Hector Jorquera, we developed short-, medium-, and long-term project portfolios to incrementally plan these small and medium-sized towns.
Ciudad Emergente at Espacios Vivos - Bogotá for Placemaking Colombia
Organized by the Placemaking Colombia Network, our Executive Director, Javier Vergara Petrescu, shared our experiences alongside prominent guests at the Espacios Vivos Congress.
Check out the content on Placemaking’s Instagram here!
We were at Smart City Expo Curitiba, Brazil
Under the theme “Reinventing Cities for All”, we were invited to speak at the Human-Scale Cities panel at the Smart City Expo in Curitiba, Brazil—a Latin American icon known for its pioneering public transportation system and outstanding architecture.
Ciudad Emergente at the International Summit of Sustainable Cities in Temuco
Organized by the International Business Accelerator (ANI) Chile, we had the opportunity to present in this important city of the Araucanía Region about how emerging cities can implement tactical actions to promote sustainability.
Podcast: Ciudad Emergente in Design Month!
In October, we were invited to the podcast The Culture of Design, hosted by Trinidad Guzmán from the Ministry of Cultures, Arts, and Heritage, and Juan Pablo Vergara.
We discussed the pivotal role of design in creating more human, sustainable, and participatory public spaces. The conversation highlighted our foundation's innovative work and how urban design transforms the way we live and interact with our cities.
Stay tuned to our social media to listen to the podcast!
Sociedad en Acción Survey: Impact of the “Convenios Case”
The impact of the so-called “Convenios Case” on numerous civil society organizations (CSOs) was the focus of the Sociedad en Acción Survey conducted by the UC Center for Public Policy. As a nonprofit organization, Ciudad Emergente participated in the study, which aimed to reveal the consequences of this case on CSOs. The findings are alarming: a decline in trust, increased bureaucracy, financial challenges for CSOs, and negative outcomes for social program beneficiaries.
Find the summary of the results here.
Urban Revitalization at the CChC 2024 International City Conference
This year, we participated in the foundation and civil society organizations fair at the 13th International City Conference of the Chilean Chamber of Construction (CChC) 2024.
Our team shared experiences and lessons learned with attendees, and our Executive Director led a workshop focused on Cities and Childhood.
Ciudad Emergente in the Media
As part of the Quilicura Clean and Safe project, developed in partnership with Google, we were featured in various media outlets to address the issue of illegal dumping sites and mobilize the community for the Okuplaza event. We appeared on national radio programs such as Green News (Radio Concierto), Piensa Circular (Radio Cooperativa), and Santiago Adicto (Radio Duna). Additionally, the final event was covered on-site by Las Últimas Noticias.
Altogether, we achieved 15 media mentions, highlighting the impact and significance of this environmental project.
New members to our team and Network of Consultants: New faces, more ideas and renewed energies in Ciudad Emergente!
We are thrilled to welcome new members who joined our team and Consultant Network in 2024.
Each brings experience, creativity, and a unique commitment to building more inclusive, sustainable, and vibrant cities.
Meet our team here!
Meetings 2024 Ciudad Emergente
Practicing what we preach, our teams grow stronger when we connect and share experiences. In relaxed gatherings at our beautiful new office in Espacio 1179 in Recoleta, as well as in Cajón del Maipo where we reconnected with nature, we shared stories and strengthened our bonds as a team.
It was the perfect moment to reflect on the year's achievements and recharge our energy for 2025!
2024 in Numbers
9,500 people benefited from the transformation of their neighborhoods and cities.
15,000 followers on Instagram.
23 projects developed.
139 consultants and collaborators active in our network across Chile and globally.
3 countries impacted, both in person and remotely.
As we close the chapter of 2024, we proudly reflect on the milestones reached and the fruitful collaborations that have strengthened our mission.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all collaborators, allies, and communities who have been part of this journey. Looking ahead, we remain committed to making a positive impact and collectively building the cities of tomorrow.