La percepción de la población como criterio de diseño del espacio público en el Centro Histórico de Cuenca. Caso de estudio: Plaza El Vergel y Plaza El Carbón

Abstract

Currently, a common challenge around interventions in public spaces, is to capture the social dynamics that it houses, considering public space as a vital component of the cities in which the social practices that are developed contribute to the encounter and interaction of people. Also, it is necessary to acquire relevant information for the design process.

This work presents a methodology for the diagnosis of public spaces, which allows achieving congruent answers with their dynamics and their role in the urban context, without losing the neighborhood activities that give them personality. The process is formulated under a systemic approach that identifies the components of the dimensions around the space (physical-spatial, social, cultural, environmental and security), their interrelations and their incidence in the physical configuration and the qualities of the place, being its main axis the public perception. The methodology is applied in El Vergel and El Carbón squares, located in heritage neighborhoods on the edge of the Historic Center of Cuenca, Ecuador. This method consists of three methodological tools: observation, surveys and interviews, each one fulfills a specific objective and enables to validate or compare the information obtained from the others. The work culminates with the formulation of design criteria based on the positive or negative aspects identified in the study areas. The design strategies are related to the quality criteria of the public space: protection, comfort and image, accessibility, identity and uses and activities.