DESIGN FOR EXISTENCE OR FOR DEVELOPMENT? A CRITIQUE OF URBAN INTERVENTION AT THE QUEBRADA VERDE TOWN CENTER

Abstract

In the town of Quebrada Verde, urban intervention initiatives are not aligned with the magnitude of the socio-environmental problems facing this community. The infrastructure gap and the focus of municipal proposals may not currently be focused on advancing the community by providing efficient urban infrastructure for a populated center with a vulnerable ecosystem next to it, such as Lomas de Lucumo, one of the green lungs of the capital city of Lima in Peru. This research establishes the guidelines for the growth of Quebrada Verde in relation to a landscape with the fragile ecosystem of Lomas de Lucumo for its conservation. This study focuses on the critique of urban improvements implemented to enhance Quebrada Verde and identifies the barriers that could be preventing better urban quality in the area. Through document analysis, direct observation of the site, collection of complementary documents, and interviews with specialists in this context, it is confirmed that the measures taken by the municipality towards the population aim to remain educational and even symbolic. However, the scale of the needs, together with spatial development, suggest proposals that respond directly in the urban environment, not only for the benefit of the community but also for the ecosystem in which they coexist. This study concludes that a dignified and permanent intervention proposal could be more effective when there is collaborative work with the community. Design strategies and examples that can be replicated in the urban context are proposed to generate resilience and activate public spaces for community interaction.