Parque Bicentenario. A large void in the construction of the Urban Project

Abstract

Parque Bicentenario (Bicentennial Park), in Quito, is an unusual site, a large urban void surrounded by a greyish city that sits on the impressive Andean geography. A park that lacks the elements that have characterised other parks in Quito. This article analyses the planning process for Parque Bicentenario against the framework that defines Large Urban Projects and highlights the role of design within the construction of the urban project in the contemporary city. This is done through a review of the proposals and official documents that regulate the park’s development and the urban regeneration of its surrounding area.