Parque Explora:

A Symbol of Medellín's Transformation

Elevation: 1,495 m
Area: 380.6 km²
Weather: average annual
temperature is 22 °C (72 °F)

Medellín

Medellín is the second-largest city in Colombia and the capital of the state of Antioquia. Its cultural transformation has been frequently cited as a model for successfully leveraging cultural assets to empower disenfranchised communities. Various civic, governmental and individual stakeholders across Medellín are helping to transform the city into a culturally vibrant place, while simultaneously addressing issues of social equity.

With the commitment to prioritizing equal opportunities for all residents, Medellín has adopted creative and unconventional approaches to improve city life. One example of this is the Metro Cable, a gondola lift system, connecting remote hillside communities to the central urban core. Medellín has built libraries, parks and schools in the poorest areas, reaffirming the belief that architecture and urban planning work hand-and-hand to advance positive social and cultural change in communities.

Medellín believes that education and culture are vital to sustainable community development and are at the heart of the quest to solve profound social and community challenges and issues.

Tourist guide

Parque Explora is located in the north of Medellín. Known as Zona Norte, this area is also home to such institutions of educational and cultural significance as Universidad de Antioquia, Centro Cultural Moravia, Casa de la Música, Planetario and Parque de los Deseos, among others.

Parque Explora

Serving as a model in Medellín’s cultural transformation, this cultural complex includes a science and technology museum, Amazonian aquarium, a vivarium, a planetarium and a public workshop for experimentation. Located in north Medellín, built on what was once a city landfill, and now a vibrant community dedicated to education and recreation, Explora is a symbol of social innovation and free access to new forms of knowledge.

It offers more than 300 activities and contains 22,000 square meters of indoor space and 15,000 square meters of outdoor area. It has 12 stages, including four exhibition halls, a children's playroom, two auditoriums and an audiovisual production center.

Parque Explora is located in the northern area of Medellín, known as Zona Norte, which includes nine places full of vitality, such as Universidad de Antioquia, Centro Cultural Moravia, Casa de la Música, Planetario and Parque de los Deseos, among others.

Other spaces

The conference will feature work sessions in other venues, such as Planetario, Jardin Botánico, Museo de Arte Moderno and Museo de Antioquia.