Public space intervention model in the historic city based on the parametric analysis of its own alterations, functionality and environmental quality. Case study of Cartagena city.
Street life is the basis of human sociability. That is why public spaces have been linked to man since the beginning of civilization. Some urban design has had little influence on the day to day use that citizens make of it. Therefore , pinpointing the reasons and redesigning accordingly allows connection with the most direct beneficiaries: its citizens.
This doctoral thesis aims to find the key characteristics of urban public spaces that invite public interaction. Cartagena's old town is a test example where we obtain objective data and where we experiment as if it was an urban laboratory.
This research also aims to correlate professional work with other similar activitieswhich have a direct influence on the behaviour of those who use the spaces.
This may be done by setting fourteen different criteria of what happens in townships that have been used to analyse the twenty public spaces from Cartagena's old town. These places let us observe, count, analyse etc., so that we can obtain objective and concrete results. This analysis expands the traditional disciplines of Architecture and Urbanization to introduce other branches of Urban Study such as Sociology, History and environmental conditions. People have let us know about the more effective places and their opinions have given us the chance to understand better why people go to a specific place rather than another.
They have become a key factor in this public space project. People, as well the other criteria, must be taken into account in town planning.
Throughout this analysis, the inner city clockwork has been established, answering the question why there are parts of town which work successfully and what their features are.
Results confirm that the design and structure of an old-town public space of a city like Cartagena have less influence than other contextual factors such as the urban, financial , social and historical. For instance, the socio-economic context and the the incorporation of a space in the city's internal streetwork have a great influence on the use of such space. Environment,accessibility and practicality give value to public spaces, but do not guarantee success. Therefore, when it comes to designing a public space project it will be necessary to work with such criteria in order to achieve the complex and special understanding of the workings of city life.