Soup kitchen in Montevideo: spatial improvements from a dialogical approach

Abstract

This text describes and reflects on the communication processes carried out in the different stages of the university extension project "FADU en ollas", which aimed to develop spatial improvements in the premises where some of the popular soup kitchens and meal centre in Montevideo, Uruguay, are currently located. It was a collaborative work between the neighbours, students, teachers and technicians of the Municipality of Montevideo where communication played a relevant role to build technical projects that will improve the activity, and materialise them in a process of participatory construction.
The project took place within the framework of the agreement between the Municipality of Montevideo's Plan ABC and the Faculty of Architecture, Design and Urbanism. The article proposes to open the debate on the role of the university as an articulator and facilitator of communication in the implementation of public policies in the territory.