Redesigning the Galeria Santa Elena urban landscape in Cali, Colombia. Enhancing the commercial hub and the surrounding public space as neighbourhood regenerative driver. =

By demonstrating how tactics from our field can support the city’s expansion, we have found significant opportunities in this thesis to support Cali’s sustainable development. The Galería Santa Elena, a historic marketplace that has developed into a paradigm over time, is one of these important locations. Its historical significance and strong ties to nearby residents and traders account for its architectural value. Cali’s identity is symbolized by this gallery, which has established itself as a commercial hub where a number of urban systems, including public spaces, mobility, and the environment, converge. However, these systems are notable for their obvious flaws rather than their effectiveness. Those who are dedicated to revitalizing this situation have a huge opportunity. As a consequence of the demographic explosion and the lack of urban planning, the Santa Elena neighbourhood has undergone a drastic transformation, resulting in the decay of its urban atmosphere. Overcrowding, environmental contamination, and disconnection from the intermodal mobility system are just a few of the issues that have resulted from this situation, making the area a hub of chaos and abandonment for market visitors. Aside from other architectural issues, the gallery has lost its protagonism due to the deterioration of the building’s infrastructure and the shops that have been added to it. This has affected the building’s structural beauty and symbolism. The problem that guides this thesis focuses on answering How architectural and urban interventions can revitalise the Galería Santa Elena, facing key challenges such as mobility, the environment and public space? In order to revitalize the gallery and promote its integration with the rest of the urban environment, the proposal seeks on how an integral project can benefit the neighborhood. Through this approach, the aim is to give back to the Santa Elena sector its role as a central and dynamic place that meets the needs of the community. To address the problem, the thesis proposes two approaches: urban (macro scale) and architectural (micro scale). With the main goal of developing an intervention to improve the neighborhood’s public space and urban infrastructure, the research attempts to provide comprehensive guidance for analysis and proposals. Developing design strategies that promote sustainable urban practices, reduce the risk of flooding, and preserve natural features like the rainwater channel are some specific goals, as recognizing how the supply network operates on a daily basis to create a market that is seamlessly integrated with the city. Therefore, the methodology adopted is a mixed approach combining exploratory and descriptive methods. Where the first phase will be exploratory and collect data on the current state of the area, while the descriptive phase will focus on identifying relevant characteristics such as environmental infrastructure, urban design and mobility. To sum up, this thesis argues that improving Galeria Santa Elena’s urban environment and addressing spatial saturation will support the preservation of its role as an active heritage site. It draws attention to how Cali’s climate can reduce environmental hazards, preserve resources, and foster urban integration.