Assessment of sustainability of the built environment in Latin American neighbourhoods: Five cases in southern Chile.

Abstract

This article aims to show the results of the evaluation of the sustainable potential of the built environment in five neighborhoods in Southern Chile, to deal with the complex agenda of urban transformations in intermediate cities. Five neighborhoods in Isla Teja district, in the city of Valdivia, are evaluated in this research. The methodology considers five dimensions widely discussed in scientific literature: Accessibility, Connectivity, Density, Diversity and Vitality. The results show that certain neighborhoods have greater degree of adaptability in their morphology to generate diversity of uses, which in turn promote greater sustainability of the urban form. Mixed-use development and graded densities in urban blocks show best response to promote social life and collective activity in urban space. The article concludes with respect to future challenges to promote the development of more sustainable urban conditions in Latin American cities.