Located in the southern part of Buenos Aires, Barrio 20 is one of the city’s largest informal settlements. Spanning 48 hectares, it is home to 9,600 families. For years, its residents have been part of a community striving to overcome multiple challenges such as systematic exclusion from full participation in decision-making processes, unmet basic needs, inequality, and much more.
“I moved here when I was eight years old and lived in Block 22, the largest in Barrio 20, where the population is comparable to that of the newest neighbourhood in Buenos Aires, Puerto Madero. So you can imagine the overcrowding and the living conditions,” says Fabián de las Toscas, a resident of Barrio 20.
After years of unmet promises and a land takeover, residents mobilised to shed light on their precarious living conditions. Negotiations with the city government began and thus led to the start of a city upgrading process, and the enactment of a re-urbanisation law in 2016. This marked the beginning of Barrio 20’s transformation.
New housing, the opening of streets, and the expansion of potable water and sewage networks were among the developments that paved the way for socio-urban integration.
Climate change: Another challenge for neighbourhoods most impacted
While residents tackled challenges for years, another global threat had been taking shape—not just for their neighbourhood, but for the planet as a whole, climate change. Extreme weather events, including rising temperatures, heatwaves, and storms leading to flooding, intensified. The impacts of climate change threaten the quality of life and future prospects everywhere, especially for communities with limited resources. Why? Because efforts to meet basic developmental needs often took priority, leaving the impact of the climate crisis on informal settlements overlooked.
In Barrio 20, the lack of vegetation and sufficient shade in the new developments, combined with rising temperatures and heat waves, caused local temperatures to soar well above the citywide average. This growing challenge became increasingly evident, demanding urgent action from the Barrio 20 community. Since 2021, neighbours, local organisations, professionals, and various municipal departments have joined forces through the Transformative Urban Coalitions (TUC) project to mitigate the effects of climate change and build a more resilient neighbourhood.
Murals in Barrio 20: A means of representing the present
Through TUC, various initiatives have been implemented, including physical interventions, capacity-building opportunities, and awareness campaigns, all designed to integrate climate change considerations into the re-urbanisation process.
With participatory designs by the Instituto Internacional de Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo, IIED – América Latina (IIED-AL), the Barrio 20 community, and the City Housing Institute, the project has become a collaborative workspace for implementing innovative and sustainable climate solutions. These include green structures, rain gardens, and awareness-raising activities—all geared toward enhancing the neighbourhood’s resilience to environmental challenges.
Adding to this effort, 150 students from the School of Design at the University of Buenos Aires’ Faculty of Architecture, Design, and Urbanism (FADU-UBA) contributed mural proposals that address climate change and promote sustainability in Barrio 20. These ideas emerged from exchanges with the community, reflecting their concerns, aspirations, and visions for the neighbourhood’s present and future.
Two murals were selected by the residents and painted in early 2024. These pieces creatively depict the community’s daily life, demonstrating how they integrate sustainable practices such as gardening, recycling, and greening. This symbolised the unity of the various stakeholders involved and the empowerment of the community as agents of change, emphasising the importance of collaboration to achieve sustainable, long-lasting results.
Silvana Marchetti
Catalysing change through climate action murals
The creation of climate action murals not only raises awareness within the community but also serves as a catalyst for envisioning a sustainable future. These murals represent an ongoing transformation, linking reurbanisation with climate action and fostering change in the present to build a fairer, more sustainable future.
“In other parts of the city, you see all the greenery and trees, but here, the focus has always been on addressing the basics first. Initiatives like TUC are making the neighbourhood more like the rest of the city. I’m happy; I want us to keep working, raising awareness, and becoming more sensitive to the environment we live in” says Noelia Muruani, a Barrio 20 resident.
This project demonstrates that climate justice is not an abstract concept but a tangible reality that directly impacts many communities. It is a fight for a future where everyone has access to a healthy and safe environment.
In Barrio 20, it is becoming increasingly evident that living in harmony with the planet is possible, but this must begin with the most unequal urban areas. Projects like this require both local and international support, wider dissemination, and a global commitment to achieving greater climate justice.