Use and perception of public space from the view of population: the case study of Cuenca, Ecuador

Abstract

Social dynamic is inherent in public spaces, which should encourage the encounter and interaction of the users. In addition, it is necessary to have information for the project that exceeds the design preconceptions that the designer usually has. However, it is a challenge to capture the experiences, opinions and activities that users carry out in these spaces. The objective of this article is to propose a methodology for the diagnosis of public spaces that captures the daily dynamics of the population, the perception of the elements that constitute them, as well as the role they play in the neighborhood and in the context of the city. The methodological proposal is framed in a systemic perspective that determines the different dimensions that structure it, the quality criteria and their interrelations, by using different instruments (observation, survey and interview). As a case study, we work in the Plazas El Vergel and El Carbón, located in historic neighborhoods of Cuenca, Ecuador. The obtained result is an integral characterization, as well as a detailed knowledge of the perception of the population and the use of space in a structured way based on theoretical argumentation. With the application of the methodological proposal, we could confirm the importance of the participation of the population in the interventions, resulting in common elements that can be generalized and in turn, in particularities of each space.