Historically, urban planning in Buenos Aires has been shaped by a strong dichotomy between the north and the south. While the north has concentrated most public and private investment—becoming the engine of modern expansion and integration into the global market—the south has been relegated to the status of an urban periphery, with limited infrastructure, services, and opportunities. This inequality has manifested not only in material terms but also symbolically, reinforcing an imaginary that sees the south as a territory available for strategic interventions, while simultaneously keeping it fragmented and segregated.

In this context, A New Vision for the South of the City emerges as a strategic initiative to reverse this historical logic and strengthen territorial planning through an integrated, participatory, and evidence-based approach. The project brought together various departments of the Buenos Aires City Government, aiming to align efforts and guide interventions toward a more equitable and balanced urban development.

The initiative was structured in three main phases. The first focused on data collection and territorial surveys, including a collaborative diagnosis with technical teams from the government. The second phase centered on the development of a project taxonomy and a prioritization workshop, with the goal of identifying strategic interventions, avoiding overlaps, and optimizing resource use. Finally, the third phase consolidated a long-term shared vision, synthesized in the development of three Integrated Urban Plans (PUIs) for the zones identified within the Southern Development Area: Southwest (SO), South Central (SC), and Southeast (SE).

This approach stands as a replicable model for other cities, highlighting the importance of strategic planning, intersectoral collaboration, and informed decision-making. A New Vision not only provides a concrete roadmap to guide future interventions in the south of Buenos Aires, but also redefines how we understand urban planning: as a tool to build more equitable, connected, and sustainable territories.