Catálogo razonado de balcones pertenecientes a edificaciones patrimoniales ubicadas en la calle Simón Bolívar de la ciudad de Cuenca, Ecuador

Abstract

The Historic Center of Cuenca is nationally and internationally recognized for its architectural and cultural richness, due to the presence of a significant number of heritage buildings with balconies that hold aesthetic and social value. In this context, the objective of this study is to develop a reasoned catalog of the balconies on heritage buildings along Simón Bolívar Street, with the aim of improving understanding of their formal characteristics, urban and landscape value, and sociocultural significance. The methodology of this study consists of a qualitative approach and a combination of descriptive, documentary, and field research designs. The research tools included a preliminary inventory, a literature review, semi-structured interviews with the direct users of the properties, and documentation through photographs, sketches, and diagrams. As a result, the study aims to produce a technical and structured catalog that contributes to the heritage management of the balconies on Simón Bolívar Street, bounded by Coronel Talbót Street to the west and Manuel Vega Street to the east, which is considered the study area. In this regard, the annotated catalog goes beyond a formal description by proposing a comprehensive analysis that integrates the architectural, urban, and sociocultural values of these heritage balconies.