Divide 13 – Designing a space for co-existence

Divide 13 – Designing a space for co-existence

PREMISE
Disparity. Division. Divide. The many words are synonymous with the cultural, social, and economic barriers that are being physically manifested through walls. Historically meant for defense, the structure saw its inception in around the tenth millennium B.C. But twenty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, they are prominently back in fashion.

Some mark the border between two countries, others the separation between communities. Be it temporary or permanent, they are often built for ‘security’ purposes. Be it Europe blocking the passage of refugees, USA building a wall with Mexico or Israel isolating itself from Palestinian. But besides that, it is also being used to separate the inhabitants of a city on an economic basis.

In Lima, Peru – the economic divide has manifested into a six-mile-long wall dividing the city’s rich and poor. The concrete wall has altered the lives and perceptions of those on each side. It also stands as a testament to Lima’s economic disparity, which has cut across the culture for ages

CHALLENGE
Brief is to design an urban link – a non-aggressive and socially inclusive border crossing, eliminating the current wall. A landscape feature and a public platform that bridges the gap between the two communities.