Architectural Urban Intervention in the "Plaza de San Francisco"

The Plaza San Francisco, located in the historical center of Cuenca, a World Cultural Heritage city, the proportion, environment, commercial character and history, make it a key space; However, the integrity of the urban space has deteriorated over the years.

Within the initial design process the values ​​of this public space were searched through the application of NARA and SWOT matrices, obtaining a clear idea about the true strengths and weaknesses of the place. These analyzes were made from the multiple polarity (historical, anthropological, archaeological) of the square and its architectural urban environment. These studies were complemented by urban analyzes of mobility, uses and equipment and the area of ​​influence of the square with public spaces.

The place observed as a place of intense human relations, invites us to democratize and strengthen social cohesion in this public space, through a management of space with a diversity of schedules and uses. This idea is materialized through the design of the square in four zones: commercial zone with rotating trade, area of ​​prolongation of the activity of the portals of the street San Francisco and zone of stay that complements with the historical zone, here it is located A landmark, in addition shows a sample of old small stone floor.

From the interior of the Plaza San Francisco, important visual relations are generated towards several constructed landmarks of the Historic Center of Cuenca; For this reason, the proposal seeks to create spaces of transparency, which facilitate functional and visual connections to the architectural context, through the design and location of urban furniture that strengthen the criteria of permeability and transparency.

The square and the architecture that surrounds it constitute in itself, a landmark for the city.
By: kache-dapa-asa