Author:

Keywords:

self-help neighborhood, participation, minga, Quito

Abstract:

The case of Comité del Pueblo is an historical example, of a neighborhood of Quito created in the 70’s by a complex cooperative machine, which had the ability to overcome, legally, the shortcomings of the government. 5000 families in need of housing, an extreme left wing political party and a faculty of architecture, together in an impressive project of solidarity. A critical reflection on such example nowadays, uncovering the vanguard social figures of students, architects and urbanists, is not finalized to celebrate its premises, but rather to question the experience in the light of on-going Ecuadorian discussions on participation and inclusion. A lesson that probably deserves to be re-read as one of the scarce attempts to satisfy the right to the city in Quito.