bachelorThesis
Identificación de tejidos urbanos en la ciudad de Cuenca, dentro del límite del área de influencia, según el plan de ordenamiento territorial del cantón Cuenca (2015)
Fecha
2018Autor
Cobo Torres, Andrea Daniela
Neira Orellana, Ana Carolina
Institución
Resumen
population
and generally without an adequate planning
process. In Latin American cities, spatial dynamics,
urban fabrics and territorial distribution,
among others, are not considered when plans
are developed. In the other hand, the attention
to existing urban fabrics, which are defined by
Wheeler (2015) as an area of distinctive urban
form big enough for individuals to perceive it
as a characteristic type of place, allows a better
understanding of urban form and the relationship
between its components: streets, blocks,
plots and buildings. Additionally, urban fabrics
affect the functioning and social dynamics of
a city and therefore have a direct relationship
with planning. So, as Latin America faces several
challenges, the study of urban fabrics in cities is
relevant and increasingly urgent. With this background,
this project seeks to identify and categorize
different urban fabrics in the influence and
urban area of the city of Cuenca (Ecuador) as a
case study and applying the visual methodology
developed by Stephen Wheeler (2015). This methodology
has been tested in 24 metropolitan
regions around the world, giving as a result the
characterization of 27 urban fabric types. The author
mentions the existence of five elements to
define a fabric type: “street and block patterns;
patterns of plots and land use; building form, scale,
placement on lots; street and parking design;
and typical relationships between “green” and
“gray” landscape components” (Wheeler, 2015).
As a result, this study identified 18 urban fabrics
in Cuenca, of which Rural sprawl and Country
roads are the most common, which means that
the city still has a lot of developable land. However,
these fabrics reveal problems for sustainability
due to land consumption, resources demand
and motorized vehicle dependence. On the other
hand, fabrics such as Organic, Quasi grid, Rectangular
block grid and Urban grid, which also have
a strong presence, allow for a compact development
without an increase in land usage, which
would imply a decrease in private vehicle use for
short trips. These fabrics also offer the possibility
of improving green areas and minimizing the
pollution effects. Consequently, each fabric type
presents challenges and opportunities for planning.
The knowledge of urban fabrics in Cuenca
allows the generation of sustainable planning recommendations
that respond to each type condition.
It also opens a wide field of possibilities
for future research from different approaches.
Finally, Cuenca’s growth is a fact; therefore, the
question is not whether the city will change, but
how it will do it.