Jorge Muñoz Wells, former mayor of Lima: "Start with a clean, safe, well-structured area, and positive changes will spread outwards"

Jorge Muñoz Wells, former mayor of Lima, delivered recently a lecture at IE School of Architecture and Design, where he discussed Lima's rapid growth and the challenges posed by migration. The presentation, held at the IE Tower in Madrid, detailed a multi-stage master plan, including climate action, coastal development, and the historic center's restoration, emphasizing pedestrianization and riverfront improvements. Key initiatives involved restoring historical buildings, creating safer public spaces, and implementing policies to fund the projects. The overall goal was to transform the historic center into a lively, sustainable, and attractive tourist destination. The lecture was followed by a conversation with David Goodman, Dean at IE School of Architecture and Design.

A Peruvian lawyer with experience in both public and private management, Jorge Muñoz Wells served as the Metropolitan Mayor of Lima (2019-2022) during whose tenure approximately 1,000 projects were promoted including viaducts and health programs during the pandemic. Previously, he was the mayor of the Miraflores district (2011-2018), where his administration promoted the construction of underground parking facilities and underground warehouses to mitigate the impact of earthquakes. In the private sector, he has held significant roles, including his current position as Senior Director of Public Affairs at Llorente & Cuenca Peru. 

Muñoz Wells pointed out that Lima’s significant population growth over the last 60 years, reaching more than 10 million inhabitants, occurred without adequate planning, resulting in challenges such as congestion and environmental degradation. He argued that the centralization of opportunities in Lima has driven internal migration from other provinces, further straining resources and infrastructure, while the influx of Venezuelan migrants has placed extra pressure on the city’s capacity.

During his tenure, urban planning became a priority, with four key plans: the Climate Action Plan (2021-2030) to mitigate climate change with actions targeting clean air, water, and soil management; the Metropolitan Urban Development Plan, addressing Lima's expansion and development; the Master Plan for the Coast, focusing on integrating the city with its coastline and overcoming the "city growing with its back to the sea" phenomenon; and the Master Plan for the Historic Center, which was the primary focus of Muñoz Wells's lecture, detailing the revitalization of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Master Plan for the Historic Center started in 2010 and formalized in 2019 through a municipal law. It includes milestones extending to 2029 and projections through 2035, with strategic phases for its implementation. The plan’s primary goals are to preserve the city’s historical tradition and legacy, improve residents’ living conditions, promote the historic center as a tourist destination, and reduce vulnerabilities in this earthquake-prone region. Jorge Muñoz Wells referenced the “broken windows theory” to emphasize the importance of starting with a clean, safe, and well-organized urban area, which can catalyze positive changes in other parts of the city, spreading like "good contamination."

Key initiatives during Muñoz Wells’s administration included the implementation of 41 pedestrian-priority blocks to reclaim streets for people, encouraging walking and cycling, the revitalization of the Rimac River transformed the polluted river areas into public spaces inspired by successful projects such as Madrid Río, and the restoration of churches and plazas, improving safety and highlighting Lima’s rich cultural heritage.

Muñoz Wells’s lecture conveyed several essential messages: long-term urban planning is paramount to ensure sustainable and orderly growth; building on previous initiatives and avoiding political disruptions to long terms plans is key to success. He also stressed that public spaces should prioritize pedestrians and encourage community interaction. Furthermore, he advocated for investing in the restoration of historical and cultural assets, noting that such efforts not only attract tourism but also enhance the quality of life for residents.

In the closing segment of the event, David Goodman asked how to balance preserving Lima’s heritage with addressing residents' needs, to which Jorge Muñoz Wells emphasized the importance of integrating social housing into urban development. They also discussed the challenges of Lima’s largely informal economy, which relies on central government funding, limited taxation, donations, and property sales to finance public projects. Regarding coastal development, they highlighted the urgency of disaster preparedness, stressing the need for evacuation routes and safety infrastructure to address risks like earthquakes, tsunamis, and flooding.