Towards socially integrated housing in Chile: assessing conviviality through two key housing projects

Abstract

Social integration is an important goal of contemporary urban policy in Chile. Using the concept of conviviality under-stood as the “art of living in community” (Esteva, 2012), this work analyses two socially integrated housing develop-ments in Chile. This paper argues that materially interspersing different socioeconomic groups within housing devel-opments is insufficient on its own to achieve the objectives of social integration espoused in the national urban policy. In particular, it leaves aside community and cultural processes and therefore neglects considerations of inclusion, equi-ty, and conviviality. Furthermore, it is insufficient on its own in meeting sustainable cities and quality of life objectives of the National Urban Development Policy. As a result, we raise critical questions for the implementation of national pol-icy objectives to combat the segregation of cities. The concept of assessing conviviality is proposed as a means to fur-ther understand social integration.