WHAT IS “MADRID NUEVO NORTE?
Madrid Nuevo Norte (MNN) is a large-scale redevelopment project, comparable in size to Canary Wharf in London or La Défense in Paris. Madrid Nuevo Norte will create new urban spaces and facilities in a brownfield area. Today, this area is occupied by railroads, industrial land and related obsolete activities. The project will incorporate a number of new infrastructure elements, with the aim of creating a seamless connection between areas of the city that are currently separated by railroads.
Madrid Nuevo Norte will encompass the construction of a new Central Business District, 10,000 new housing units, numerous new public facilities, public spaces, parks and transport infrastructures. These will include several new subway stations, a new rapid bus system, and the renewal of the Chamartín-Clara Campoamor train station. This station will become the primary transportation hub in the city, serving as a central point for high-speed lines and facilitating connectivity to Barajas Airport.
GENDER MAINSTREAMING IN MNN
The UNESCO Chair’s involvement in the project entailed a thorough consultancy, ensuring the incorporation of gender, childhood and family issues from the project’s earliest stages. Madrid Nuevo Norte is the first large-scale urban development to incorporate the gender perspective in such a comprehensive manner.
The UNESCO Chair participated in the design process as a permanent advisor. Our work focused on incorporating the specific needs of women and everyday life necessities into the most pertinent urban planning variables. For example, considerations such as the diversity of land use, the close proximity of services and facilities within residential areas, the quality and safety of public spaces and transportation systems, and the adaptation of residential areas to the present social context were all relevant factors.
Key activities of the UNESCO Chair in the Madrid Nuevo Norte project:
- – Ad hoc training session for all departments involved in the project.
- – Ongoing advice and support throughout the process of drafting and elaborating the technical document.
- – Ongoing guidance to the communication and social engagement departments.
- – Advice on public participation activities