Urban Growth and Social Sustainability: Design Strategies for San Borja

Abstract

This thesis examines how rapid urban growth between 2018 and 2025 has reshaped social sustainability in San Borja and how architectural and urban design strategies can help reconcile high residential density with the district’s community identity. It uses a mixed approach that combines a literature review, an observation sheet, and two structured surveys. The study identifies how recent high-density developments have affected residents’ daily activities, sense of belonging, and interest in participation in planning processes. The findings show that current tensions regarding densification stem from practical disruptions such as increased traffic, reduced parking availability, noise, and poor integration with the existing urban fabric. At the same time, residents express interest in contextual design solutions, such as transparent façades and the inclusion of restaurants, cafés, minimarkets, and bakeries in ground floors, which have the potential to increase street vitality and everyday sociability. These preferences highlight a gap between residents’ expectations and existing regulatory constraints limiting mixed-use buildings in San Borja. The study recommends the implementation of these strategies through conceptual plans and concludes that socially sustainable growth in the district depends on design strategies that strengthen street-level integration, promote diverse urban activity and incorporate resident input in planning processes to ensure density supports the social qualities that define it.