The cultural landscape of Puchoco (Schwager): participative processes for urban upgrading

Abstract

This paper resumes the participation process and some results about the urban recovery planning of Puchoco (Schwager), one of the main villages who was originated in the nineteenth century by the coal mining in southern Chile, nowadays a substantial cultural landscape. Under the Neighborhood Recovery Program "Quiero Mi Barrio" from the Housing and Urban Development Ministry (MINVU) was developed participation diagnosis and planning that included a socio-analysis, a joint diagnosis and the establishment of a Neighborhood Development Council, which was intended reveal priority urban and social projects by the implementation of an action plan (social and constructions). Through a participation process, the community established goals to obtain some urban developments such as: a) recover the tangible and intangible heritage, b) restore degraded and abandoned places, and c) transform Schwager in a tourist polo. While the community´s participants realize that the urban landscape is poor, in social and communitarian levels as in the urban environment also agree that Puchoco has elements of competitiveness and potential for urban development. Among these highlights the heritage (tangible and intangible) and the culture (traditions, beliefs, symbols, history) as connection’s elements for its inhabitants. The work that was done by the program had gave a boost and motivation to its inhabitants.