Urban Plan for Internally Displaced People
2016 I Design Concept
LOCATION
Cartagena, Colombia
Discipline
Architecture
sector
Residential
Commercial
Cultural & Civic
Institutional
Hospitality
Project Type
Multifamily Housing
Office Buildings
Retail Spaces
Cultural Center
Community Center
Child Care Facilities
Hotels
Restaurants




Project Details
The Urban Plan for Internally Displaced People (IDP) in Cartagena, Colombia, is a groundbreaking project conceptualized by Paola Moya during her thesis at the Catholic University of America from 2008-2009. This visionary design, which earned the NOMA Visionary Honor Award in 2011, addresses the complex challenges faced by Colombia’s nearly five million internally displaced persons.
Spanning 16 acres, the plan integrates 25% of its housing units for IDPs, with the remaining units assigned to mixed-income families. The design features five mixed-use housing towers that promote social integration and community-building. Vertical and horizontal farming techniques are incorporated to sustain up to a quarter of IDP residents, while rooftop wind farms enhance the development’s self-sufficiency.
The project also includes essential amenities such as a public school, healthcare center, daycare, and a business center offering legal and financial support to IDPs. A key cultural component is the Gabriel Garcia Marquez Cultural Center, which, along with a dedicated museum, celebrates Cartagena’s rich heritage and the literary legacy of the famed Colombian author.
This urban plan exemplifies how thoughtful design can address the needs of displaced populations while fostering a sustainable, culturally vibrant community.
Designed under Paola Moya’s leadership as CEO of Marshall Moya Design
Facts & Figures
Client
Research for Housing Solutions
Size
16 Acres
25% of the Units Assigned to IDP
Status
Completed
Completion Year
2016 | Concept Design
Awards
2020
National Organization of Minority Architects | Visionary Honor Award