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Implementing integrated heritage principles in the urban context of Bogotá

María Claudia López

“(In)tangible: Towards Integrated Heritage Approaches in Managing and

Developing Sites” – 8 October 2026, Bruges

@María Claudia López 2017

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8.5M inhabitants
2,600 m ASL
20 districts
478 km2 of urban area (27%)
1,298 km2 of rural area (73%)

@El Tiempo

Bogotá

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Foto: PNN 2026

@El Tiempo

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SDP – Alcaldía de Bogotá, 2019 Vista aérea (Andrés Sandoval)

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Foto: El Tiempo 2025

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The elaboration process comprised extensive public engagement and multisectoral coordination.
The Secretary of Planning was responsible for leading and coordinating the process, collaborating closely with 4 other entities:
District’s Secretary of Environment
Cundinamarca’s Regional Autonomous Corporation (CAR)
Bogotá’s Territorial Council of District Planning
The District Institute of Cultural Heritage

Bogotá’s Territorial Management Plan 2022- 2035

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Bogotá’s Territorial Management Plan 2022- 2035

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Integrates tangible, intangible, and natural heritage within the territory.

It promotes comprehensive heritage management, strengthening social ties and the productive life of the social and community groups that live in the city’s iconic urban and rural landscapes.

Integrative structure of heritage

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Integrative structure of heritage

Fuente: extracto Plano del POT de Bogotá 2022

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Protection of natural heritage and the renaturalization of environments through public spaces, traditional gardens, and historic heritage trees.

Safeguarding of traditional knowledge, cultural practices and rural ways of life that help foster local economies.

Revitalization and consolidation of heritage areas and those where traditional and ancestral productive activities take place (creative districts).

Integrative structure of heritage - strategies

Recognition of the importance of the relationship between the eastern hills and ecological corridors, highlighting these natural and cosmogonic elements.

Recognition of elements located at the urban-rural boundaries that possess heritage value for strengthening regional relationships.

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Integrative structure of heritage - strategies

Protection of the historic center through the Special Management Plan

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Establishment of a 100-meter buffer zone from the boundary of cultural properties.

Protection of representative views that allow visitors to appreciate the elements of the historic, cultural, and natural landscape.

Restriction on the installation of antennas, poles and outdoor visual advertising.

Measures for the protection of the urban and rural landscape

Protection of artisanal production centers and areas where traditional crafts and knowledge are concentrated.

@María Claudia López 2017

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Integrated Heritage Observatory

Its role is to research, measure, monitor, and analyze urban dynamics related to heritage, with the aim of strengthening the role of cultural - both tangible and intangible - and natural heritage in spatial planning.

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Inventory of living heritage

Domains

Elements

IDPC website 2026

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Geographical location of intangible cultural heritage

Oral traditions and expressions;

Performing arts;

Social practices, rituals and festive events;

Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe;

Traditional craftsmanship

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The POT has 33 Local Planning Units – LPU

LPU 23 Historic Center: has the highest number of ICH elements related to traditional trades and local and traditional production.

The traditional markets, local cuisine, artistic processes, and artisanal knowledge underscore its importance as a creative and cultural sector.

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@María Claudia López 2017

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@María Claudia López 2017

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Tomado de la pág. web El Tiempo 2017

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Tomado de la pág. web El Tiempo 2017

Fotos tomadas de Facebook Instituto Distrital de Turismo 2025

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Foto: Maria Emma Quintero, Helena Ballesteros y Ana Victoria Gualteros. Tejedoras del grupo Tejiendo Sueños Fuente: SCRD 2017

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The old Restrepo Market was the meeting point where food vendors, merchants, workers, sellers, citizens and representatives of district entities came together to participate in the launch of the inventory of living heritage of the traditional markets in Bogotá.

Traditional markets of Bogotá

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@IPES 2023

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@María Claudia López 2017

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In Bogotá's markets, memory, identity, and the future are intertwined.

Their knowledge, crafts, and traditions are part of the city's living heritage.

The facades were embellished with urban art – graffiti art.

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Graffiti District

Launched in 2016 to promote the responsible practice of urban art.

4,500 m² of urban art, an open-air gallery

This strategy focuses on reclaiming public space and generating initiatives that encourage active, responsible, and participatory citizenship in shaping the city.

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Foto: El Tiempo 2018

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Fuente: Alcaldía Mayor de Bogotá. Página web

https://bogota.gov.co/mi-ciudad/movilidad/nueva-cicloruta-de-la-calle-116-beneficia-82000-

perso}nas

Cultural system linked to:

local knowledge
community and productive structures
grassroots economies
cultural practices
modes of transportation

Gran Manifestación del Pedal en 1974

Fuente: archivo personal de Jaime Ortiz.

Bogotá´s Bicycle Culture

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Fuente: Alcaldía Mayor de Bogotá. Página web

https://bogota.gov.co/mi-ciudad/movilidad/nueva-cicloruta-de-la-calle-116-beneficia-82000-

personas

Mapping of Bogotá's Culture of Bicycle Use and Enjoyment

@PES 2023

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Fuente: Alcaldía Mayor de Bogotá. Página web

https://bogota.gov.co/mi-ciudad/movilidad/nueva-cicloruta-de-la-calle-116-beneficia-82000-

perso}nas

Fuente: Stéphane M. Greso. YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyK6kgLC708

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Thank you