Urban acupuncture is a theory that uses small-scale interventions in select areas to transform the larger urban context, similar to how acupuncture relieves stress in the human body. Sites are chosen based on social, economic, and ecological factors through community engagement. It favors localized projects over massive renewal and empowers citizens and creativity. Examples discussed include Treasure Hill community in Taipei, work by architect Marco Casagranda, and initiatives by Gordon Matta-Clark and Jaime Lerner. Placemaking is also discussed as a community-driven process that creates public spaces promoting health, happiness, and well-being.

1. CONTEMPORARY CONCEPTS
ARCH 406 - URBAN DESIGN AND PLANNING

2. URBAN ACUPUNCTURE
 Urban acupuncture is a socio-environmental theory that combines
contemporary urban design with traditional Chinese acupuncture, using
small-scale interventions to transform the larger urban context.
 Sites are selected through analysis of aggregate social, economic and
ecological factors, and are developed through a dialogue between
designers and the community. Just as the practice of acupuncture is
aimed at relieving stress in the human body, the goal of urban
acupuncture is to relieve stress in the built environment.

3.  this school of thought eschews massive urban renewal projects in favor of a more
localized and community approach that, in an era of constrained budgets and
limited resources, could democratically and cheaply offer a respite to urban
dwellers.
IN THEORY, URBAN ACUPUNCTURE OPENS THE DOOR FOR UNCONTROLLED CREATIVITY
AND FREEDOM. CITIZENS ARE ENABLED TO JOIN THE CREATIVE PARTICIPATORY
PLANNING PROCESS, PEOPLE FEEL FREE TO USE CITY SPACE FOR ANY PURPOSE
AND DEVELOP THEIR ENVIRONMENT ACCORDING THE LOCAL RESOURCES.
THE IDEA FOCUSES ON RATHER THAN CAPITAL-INTENSIVE MUNICIPAL PROGRAMS AND
PROMOTES THE IDEA OF CITIZENS INSTALLING AND CARING FOR INTERVENTIONS

4. Treasure Hill is
a community
in Taipei, Taiwa
n. Orginally an
illegal
settlement;
converted into
art village by
community
participation;
by efforts of
Finish
Architect,
Marco
Casagranda

5. Video resource:
Paracity: urban
acupuncture |
Marco
Casagrande |
TEDxNapoli

7. Gordon Matta-Clark – the mastermind
of urban acupuncture
 It was he
who
noticed the
possibility
of using
abandoned
buildings,
which were
transformed
into
specific art
installations
.

8. Jaime Lerner – the pioneer of urban
acupuncture
 During his term as governor, he had to deal with a large amount of
pollution in the bays. He was aware that a large-scale project to clean up
would lead to a huge debt for the region. He approached the problem
with remarkable inventiveness. The idea consisted not of increasing the
budget, but in changing the mentality of people. The acupuncture stick
was subsequently conceived: if a fisherman caught a fish, the fish was his
property. If fishermen dredged waste, the management bought waste from
the fishermen. This project had a tremendous impact, not only on the
economic situation of fishermen, who were not dependent only on the fish,
but especially on the bays.

9. CURITIBA
Population:
1.746.896 inhab. (Census 2010)
1.864.416 inhab. (Projection 2014)
Growth in population:
2000-2010: 0,96% (per year)
Area: 431km²
4º GDP in Brazil
RMC (29 municipalities)
Population:
3.223.836 inhab. (Census 2010)
3.466.981 inhab. (Projection
2014)
Growth in population:
With Curitiba
2000-2010: 1,36% (per year)
Without Curitiba
2000-2010: 1,87% (per year)

10. ESCALES
 HUMAN
 URBAN
COVERAGE
LOCALIZATION
IRRADIATION
MOBILITY
SUSTENTABILITY
SOCIODIVERSITY
Urban Acupuncture
CONCEPTS INSERTION
HUMAN SCALE URBAN INSERTION

11. Radial Structure
Linear Structure

12. Curitiba´s Urban Planning Process
LAND USE MAPSTRUCTURAL AXES
N
CITY CENTRE
O L
SSRZ3 RZ4 EPAEPA RZ1 RZ2 RZ4 RZ3 RZ2 RZ1
SPEED
LANE
RAPID
AVE.
RAPID
AVE. BRT
SPEED
LANE
Environmental
Preservation
Area
Environmental
Preservation
Area
Structural Sector
Residential use
Commercial use
LOW LOW

13. Curitiba´s Urban Planning Process
Intermediate StationExclusive Lane – Public Transport
IntegrationStation
Individual Transport Lane

14. Public Transport as inducer of Urban Development

15. Curitiba´s Urban Planning Process
LAND
USE
PUBLIC
TRANSPORT
ROAD
SYSTEM
NATURAL
ENVIRONMENT

16. Transport
Mobility
Integrated Network
TIN
CURITIBA
Fonte: Curitiba em dados – IPPUC / IBGE
Timeline TIN – 1974/2015
Area Population
435 km2 1.86 mi

18. Video Resource:
Jaime Lerner: Sing a song of sustainable cities

19. The
Embarcadero
San Francisco,
CA
The Guell
Park
Barcelona, Spain

20. The Guell
Park
Barcelona, Spain

21. 5 COMMON ASPECTS OF
GOODACUPUNCTURE
 1) Features unique architecture
 2) Entertainment Hotspots
 3) Historical emphasis
 4) Transportation making it accessible
 5) Districts of Character

22. PLACEMAKING - The Community Knows Best
 Placemaking is a multi-faceted
approach to the planning,
design and management of
public spaces. Placemaking
capitalizes on a local
community's assets, inspiration,
and potential, with the
intention of creating public
spaces that promote people's
health, happiness, and well
being. It is political due to the
nature of place identity.
Placemaking is both a process
and a philosophy.
 Jane Jacobs Vision:
 Mixed use neighborhood
 Short blocks pedestrian friendly
 Building of various ages and
states of repair
 density

23. Features of good
place:
• Access and
Linkages
• Comfort and
image
• Uses and
activities
• sociability

24. Placemaking is
Community-driven
Visionary Function before form
Adaptable
Inclusive
Focused on creating
destinations
Context-specific
Dynamic
Trans-disciplinary
Transformative
Flexible
Collaborative
Sociable
Placemaking is not
Top-down
Reactionary
Design-driven
A blanket solution or quick fix
Exclusionary
Car-centric
One-size-fits-all
Static
Discipline-driven
One-dimensional
Dependent on regulatory controls
A cost/benefit analysis
Project-focused

25. Video Resource:
Tabiat Pedestrian Bridge - Iran