Architectural and Urban projects to define new scenarios for a sustainable future for the city of Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires has been grappling with a profound crisis spanning various dimensions: economic, social, political, and cultural. Over the years, the city's population has continued to swell, with many inhabitants residing in villas, informal urban settlements predominantly comprised of shacks constructed from scavenged materials and waste. These areas, often situated near the city center, embody a profound degradation in living conditions, where residents frequently face a lack of access to essential public services and even the most basic sanitary facilities.1 The relentless expansion of these uninhabitable living environments underscores an urgent need to rethink contemporary urban living paradigms in a sustainable manner, aimed at improving the quality of life for the inhabitants of Buenos Aires. This critical context serves as the foundation for a university research initiative that aspires to propose alternative scenarios addressing the current dire conditions. The project begins with a re-examination of the history of social housing within the Argentine context, while also considering successful approaches from other Latin American countries. Complementing this exploration is an analysis of the existing public policies provided by the Ministry of Territorial and Habitat Development. Although these policies present significant opportunities for social and economic advancement, they also reveal considerable challenges. Drawing insights from European experiences, strategies to mitigate these criticalities can be developed. Key proposals involve reimagining public spaces, revitalizing structurally sound buildings, and demolishing uninhabitable structures to pave the way for a more sustainable urban landscape. This vision includes offering subsidized housing and devising design tools that local governments and policymakers can effectively utilize. The research project is multidisciplinary and operates on multiple scales, bringing together the University of Udine and the University of Morón in Buenos Aires. Through collaborative design methodologies—ranging from intensive workshops to partnerships with municipal authorities—this initiative aims to facilitate a comprehensive regenerative process that redefines architectural practice within the urban context. By fostering innovation and collaboration, the project seeks to generate new scenarios that ultimately enhance the quality of life for all residents of Buenos Aires.