The other city: the current migration crisis and transformation of public space in Antofagasta, Atacama Desert, Chile.

Abstract

Contemporary cities, as constantly transforming organisms, reflect the challenges of the current world. The uncontrolled growth of informal settlements, due to the migration crisis, generates precarious conditions lacking access to basic services. Faced with the question, "How are the urban cultures of informal settlements in Antofagasta manifested and how do they impact the transformation of public space?" This article explores the relationship between public space and urban cultures in the context of informal settlements and analyzes the housing manifestations that emerge in Antofagasta, a city located on the coastal edge of the Atacama Desert, Chile. The methodology to be used will be a combination of statistical analysis of migration, housing, services, and public space data with sketches and mapping to characterize physical, cultural, and social conditions. The results show that two main typologies are identified that generate spatial segregation and transform public space.