Analysis and assessment of views under the considerations of historical urban landscape (HUL). Case study Cuenca, Ecuador

Abstract

The cities have developed over time responding to various urban dynamics, in this process have been configured representative images, product of the synergy created between the natural elements of the environment and those built by the communities. The analysis of visuals, materializes a landscape value, not evidenced at the time of planning and design projects for cities with value surroundings; you can take as an example those good practices that other countries have implemented to assess, preserve and protect views such as English Heritage (2011), London View Management Framework (2012) or View Protection Guidelines of the city of Vancouver (2011). The methodological analyzes the view in two stages: the first one strategic points of observation and view basins are identified and described as element integrators - what is seen, and through citizen participation accepts or does not accept the evaluation criteria; in the second, the view is evaluated through the relationship between quality and incidence, giving it an assessment of how fragile it is. The application of the methodology in the area known as El Ejido in the city of Cuenca - Ecuador, has resulted in a total of twentyeight visuals considered relevant. Nine of them, have been analyzed completely, evidencing that there is a view quality very High/High; nevertheless, they are affected by urban actions that generate that the incidence is High and therefore the fragility and vulnerability is greater.