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)

Abstract

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.