Urban infrastructures and geographical conditions of production in Arcabuco Boyacá: a critical study from placemaking Urban Infrastructures and the Production of Geographical Conditions: A Critical Approach from the Placemaking in Latin America

This article examines the role of urban infrastructures in the production of geographical conditions of production, drawing on Garza’s (2013) theoretical framework and Lefebvre’s (2020) contributions on the social production of space. The objective is to understand how infrastructures, beyond their technical dimension, operate as social actors that shape economic, territorial, and cultural dynamics in Latin American contexts marked by spatial inequalities. A socio-critical approach was adopted, complemented by Participatory Action Research (par), applied through a case study in Arcabuco, Boyacá, using semi-structured interviews, social mapping, and critical spatial analysis. Findings reveal that urban environments such as the central park function as spaces of collective memory and social cohesion yet face the risk of homogenizing interventions disconnected from community needs, thereby reinforcing the tension between conceived space and lived space. The study concludes that placemaking, as a participatory methodology, provides a pathway to reduce inequalities and foster inclusive and sustainable urban planning processes.