Heritage Context and Citizen Perception: An Approach to the Case of the Historic Center of Cuenca (Ecuador)

Abstract

The research contrasts two scenarios of analysis (2017-2018 and 2020-2021) of the materials of heritage architecture in consolidated urban contexts based on the case of the Historic Center of Cuenca (Ecuador); the first, from the architectural and environmental and anthropic incidence in 35 heritage facades, and the second evaluating changes in the interaction of variables through four control points and limiting the parameter of citizen perception. The study included bibliographic analysis, application of architectural cards, simple quantification matrices, environmental valuation matrices and descriptive survey of citizen perception. In the two scenarios, the affected materials (travertine, wood, brick and mortar) coincide in representativeness and degree of deterioration due to environmental contamination, precipitation, solar radiation, relative humidity and anthropic activity. In turn, 92 % of the population identifies only aesthetic features, while subordinating pathological processes, which hinders the conservation and enjoyment of heritage.