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Territorial Diagnosis and Urban Sustainability Challenges in Consolidated Mixed-Use Districts: A Case Study of Kennedy Norte, Guayaquil

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63948/intraj.v1i3.1801

Keywords:

Territorial planning, urban planning, environmental diagnosis, territorial sustainability, territorial management

Abstract

The territorial diagnosis of the North Kennedy Citadel was developed with the aim of characterizing its current state through the analysis of five subsystems: biophysical, sociocultural, economic, human settlements and political-institutional. This area, located in the Tarqui parish of the Guayaquil canton, has a flat relief, humid tropical climate and a vegetation cover of less than 15%, affected by urban expansion. Problems such as the loss of green spaces, flood risks, traffic congestion, commercial pressure on residential land and low citizen participation were identified. Despite this, the sector has potentialities such as its strategic location, consolidated infrastructure, presence of public and private actors, and underutilized territorial resources. The methodology used was mixed, combining direct observation, informal interviews, normative analysis and statistical data processing. This diagnosis constitutes a technical basis for the design of the Partial Plan, in accordance with the cantonal PDOT and the current legal frameworks (COOTAD, LOOTUGS). It is concluded that Kennedy Norte requires a planned intervention that articulates sustainability, participation and territorial planning, allowing to move towards a more balanced and resilient model.

Author Biography

Gabriela Vega Guiracocha, Universidad Laica Vicente Rocafuerte

Gabriela is a Building Architect who graduated from the University of Alcalá in Spain. She has an outstanding and rigorous postgraduate background from the Polytechnic University of Madrid, where she earned a Master’s degree in Building Science and Technology and, subsequently, a Ph.D. in Technological Innovation in Building. Demonstrating the excellence and high standard of her research work, her doctoral thesis was recognized with the highest academic distinction, receiving a Cum Laude mention.

In the academic and professional spheres, she has served since 2018 as a Research Professor in the School of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Guayaquil. Her profile is strongly focused on scientific research and academic output, publishing articles and book chapters with internationally renowned publishers such as Springer. Her research interests span various technical and sustainability fields, including innovation in construction materials—such as the study of mechanical properties in mortars with recycled aggregates—human systems design, engineering applied to architecture, and proposals for integrating sustainable urban planning with the environment.

References

GAD Municipal de Guayaquil (2024, 21 diciembre). En la Av. Kennedy empezó el proyecto para recuperar los pasos peatonales – Alcaldía de Guayaquil. Alcaldía de Guayaquil

Gobierno Autónomo Descentralizado Municipal del Cantón Guayaquil, DOIT (2010). Guayaquil.

Municipio de Guayaquil. (2023). Informe técnico sobre control de ocupaciones ilegales en el borde del Estero Salado. Dirección de Ambiente y Áreas Verdes.

Municipio de Guayaquil. (2023, noviembre 14). Kennedy Norte fortalece la prevención y control del espacio público con nuevo EAS. Alcaldía de Guayaquil.

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Published

2025-12-15

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How to Cite

Vega Guiracocha, G. (2025). Territorial Diagnosis and Urban Sustainability Challenges in Consolidated Mixed-Use Districts: A Case Study of Kennedy Norte, Guayaquil. INTRA: Interdisciplinary Research and Analysis Journal, 1(3), 46–57. https://doi.org/10.63948/intraj.v1i3.1801

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 3 (2025): Winter

Section

Articles

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