Accompanying popular organizations through grassroots planning in Argentina:
A conversation with El Taller Libre de Proyecto Social (TLPS)
Beatriz Pedro, Ana Vilenica and Moisés Quiroz
Published in Issue 6.2 // Conversation Series
Keywords: social production of habitat, housing, grassroots planning, Argentina
Abstract:
In this conversation, Beatriz Pedro, a professor of El Taller Libre de Proyecto Social (TLPS) shares her insights on grassroots planning accompanying popular organizations in Argentina. Beginning with Argentina’s 2001 economic crisis, Pedro describes how university students and professors mobilized to collaborate with popular organizations to address inadequate housing and urban abandonment. This collaboration evolved into a social approach to designing habitat, integrating various disciplines and respecting community proposals. Beatriz highlights the transformation from traditional architectural practices to a more collaborative, community-focused approach. This shift, which she terms a ‘meeting of knowledges,’ led to the establishment of a Catedra Libre at the University of Buenos Aires, formalizing their grassroots methodology. This conversation addresses the importance of university autonomy, the impact of fluctuating government support, and the role of international networks in sharing knowledge and strategies.