Explorando la habitabilidad de las niñeces: Entorno físico y discursos en condominios cerrados de Cuenca

Abstract

Urban expansion in Cuenca, Ecuador, has led to a proliferation of continuous-typology gated communities as housing options for young families. However, there is a lack of local research on child livability within these residential environments. This study investigates whether the physical-spatial characteristics of gated communities contribute to the livability for children residing within them. To achieve this, the Q Method was employed to explore livability discourses of both adults and children, complemented by a physical-spatial characterization of the residential condominiums. Results reveal significant consensuses as well as divergences between adult and child perceptions of child livability, highlighting free exploration and the construction of security as the most differentiating elements. The study concludes that the analyzed condominiums partially satisfy adults' discourses on child livability, and do not significantly satisfy those of children.