Análisis de la pérdida del patrimonio rural edificado en el periurbano de la ciudad de Cuenca. Caso de estudio: Parroquia Checa

Abstract

The built rural heritage, as part of cultural and natural identity, frames the production of the habitat of communities, encompassing both tangible and intangible assets, which include knowledge, customs, forms of expression, practices, and social habits (Bonfil, 2004). However, efforts to preserve this heritage are weakened by various anthropogenic and natural factors that underscore the vulnerability of its materiality and construction techniques (Monteros, 2016). In Cuenca, the remaining heritage of the periphery receives different treatment compared to the recognized and conventional monumental heritage; for this reason, it becomes a collection exposed to deterioration (Mejía 2014: 16). This study aims to analyze the loss and transformation of this vernacular heritage in the rural parish of Checa in the canton of Cuenca based on the latest records from the beginning of the 21st century to the present. This will serve to monitor the evolution of transformations, review its current state, and understand the factors contributing to the deterioration of built rural heritage in this parish. In the mixed methodological application of this research, various field and digital tools will be used to carry out observations that allow for a comparison with past records from the INPC within the first quarter of the 21st century, thus enabling an updated assessment of the current conditions and degradation trends in the parish.