QUINTERO BAY: A BREAKTHROUGH
SPRING 2025
PROFESSORs- KATE ORFF, GEETA MEHTA, SEBASTIAN DELPHINO & GABRIEL VERGARA
IN COLLABORATION WITH PATRICIO MUNOZ, DUTT PATEL & MAISSA EID
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
PROJECT INTRODUCTION
Ventanas and Quintero Bay, once thriving coastal areas in Chile, have become emblematic sacrifice zones- spaces heavily polluted by industry, especially copper smelting, where local communities have paid the price for national economic growth. Toxic emissions have contaminated the air, soil, and sea, causing ecological collapse, health crises, and the erosion of local livelihoods. In response, community-led groups like Muzosare have fought back, achieving key victories such as the 2022 closure of the Ventanas smelter and legal actions that pressured the government to address air quality and public health. These efforts lay the groundwork for a broader transformation of the region.
FULL PROJECT DESCRIPTION BELOW
This project proposes a future rooted in ecological repair, adaptive reuse, and community-centered development. Through a strategy of revitalization, repurposing, and social investment, it aims to restore wetlands, reuse industrial infrastructure for education and economic hubs, and create affordable housing tied to programs like green job creation and a local credit system.
The city brought us in to partner with them, but every year, the city already brings in people to experience its landscapes through the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, which attracts over 65,000 visitors annually.
Cumberland has historically connected people to other parts of the country, but today, many visitors come for the railroad and don’t always know about everything else the city has to offer. That's where we see an opportunity.
