Throughout the project, the researcher focused on three case studies of varying forms, scales, and materialities: macromurals, Iglou shelters for unhoused people, and homeless encampments. The researcher conducted policy mobility research across Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Asia, following the spatial and temporal connections of these case studies.
Macromurals have emerged as a major trend in recent years, where various actors collaborate to transform communities in the cities of the global South by painting their physical environments. The researcher collected data on the origin and connections of 18 individual projects across six Latin American countries (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and Puerto Rico), carried out by eight different collectives. The researcher visited seven of these projects personally and additionally visited an artist in the Netherlands who co-created one of the world’s first macromurals. Observations were also made in Egypt and Indonesia, both of which influenced macromurals in Latin America.
To understand the impacts of macromurals, the researcher conducted interviews with key figures involved in macromurals in Bogotá, as well as with numerous residents and community leaders from neighborhoods such as Buenavista, La Mariposa, and Mariscal Sucre (home to Bogotá’s first macromural from 2016). The researcher also participated in four local tours across various locations and conducted numerous observations in La Mariposa to deepen understanding of the impacts of macromurals and the techniques used in their creation.
Regarding Iglou shelters, the researcher visited the inventor of the shelter in France, as well as coordinators from Czechia who contributed to the development of international best practices surrounding the Iglou. Interviews and observations were conducted at an NGO in Ostrava, Czechia, with clients using Iglou shelters during cold winter months. Additionally, the researcher made several observations at a long-term homeless encampment in Prague, which has been a key field site since 2015.
During the SURBANIN project, the researcher delivered five public talks across Czechia and Colombia, presented at five conferences across four continents, and co-authored three papers and one book chapter—all in major and/or invited outlets. The researcher also coordinated one special issue. Two publications have already been released, while the remaining ones are expected to be published in 2025. Beyond scientific results, the researcher dedicated time to outreach activities, including media management, event participation, and media interviews.
