Recuperación de los corazones de manzana. Caso de estudio: Centro Histórico de Cuenca

Abstract

The Historic Center of Cuenca (HCC) is a testament of the culture of its people. The HCC features central spaces within its blocks known as block centers, which are residual spaces at the core. These spaces have lost vitality because they have mostly been converted into parking lots. The loss of block centers causes the disconnection of the residents from the area. Therefore, block centers represent an opportunity to create spaces for interaction and shared use. This study focuses on a specific area within the HCC that holds historical, cultural, and economic value. The first chapter provides the theoretical foundations to understand the work, as well as the regulatory instruments that govern the area, and case studies in cities with similar characteristics as Cuenca. The second part is an analysis of the delimited study area in order to define a block for the intervention. The third stage presents the methodology for identifying strategies. Finally, the strategies for block center recovery are applied on the selected block, and their effectiveness is studied to determine if they can be replicated in other block centers of the HCC.