New Urbanism: Civano, Arizona. Achieving Sustainability Through the Sense of Place

sustainable urbanism semester long project learning from...

New urbanism: CIVANO ARIZONA achieving sustainability through the sense of place

Anna khodyreva | ericka zambrano

Bauhaus-University Weimar Seminar Winter semester 2014/2015 Sustainable Urbanism: Challenges and Opportunities of Urbanization

Semester-long project Learning from...

New Urbanism: Civano, Arizona Achieving sustainability through the Sense of Place Professor: Jesus J. Lara, PhD Anna Khodyreva, Ericka Zambrano Source (front page): http://terrain.org/2005/interviews/interview-with-stefanos-polyzoides/

table of contents 5

1. introduction

7

2. case study: Civano community

15

3. lessons of sustainability

Sense of History Sense of Place Sense of Nature Sense of Kraft Sense of Limits

29

4. Case Study: guayaquil

35

5. lessons learned: recommendations

49

6. conclusion

51

7. references

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_4 | introduction Why to Learn

1. introduction

Imagining the beginning of life on the planet, we can see how resilient and lively nature is. Even if some disaster occurs the life is not destroyed. The life revives and starts flourishing again, because diversity and abundance is the framework of nature’s design. Humans’ action of last centuries, which is characterized by creation of spaces covered with asphalt and concrete, can be described as more confrontation than collaboration with nature.

By raising barriers to protect cities from water, using various technologies to maintain comfort environment inside concrete and glass structures and consuming huge amount of raw materials for energy production, mankind aimed to conquer the nature and constituted itself to be superior to it. But it is a big ignorance and some disasters, like

hurricanes, earthquakes or floods prove the power and hegemony of nature. Step by step our attitude is changing and with time and successful examples people realize that nature already has the wisdom and necessary answers. So the best way to achieve sustainability is to learn from it.

Respect and connection to environment, maintenance of population living in the cities, ecoeffectiveness and efficiency all work together for the best of sustainability. Sense of Place approach emphasises appreciation of the climate and weather uniqueness of each region and requires to accomplish developments and improvements considering these factors.

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_6 | case study CIvano Community

Source: http://civanoneighbors.com/

2. case study: civano community Being considered “the largest high performance, mixed land use in the United States�, the Community of Civano is designed around wide range of principles of sustainability with quantifiable goals for energy and water reduction, usage of solar energy, on site job creation, reduced automobile use and

housing affordability (S. B. Buntin, K. Pirie, 2013). This is a strong combination that gives an outstanding result in terms of efficiency achieved on physical basis. With all the technological advancements, local materials and nature caring the cornerstone of the project is Civano’s Sense of Community.

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Tucson 587.2 sq km

4.6 sq km

Source: Google Earth

history of the project

1987 | Tucson Solar Village It all started as a community of 1000 solar powered homes called the Tucson Solar Village as a showcase to demonstrate ways in which solar energy could be utilized to reduce overall energy consumption authorized by the governor of Arizona and designed by Wayne Moody.

1991 | Civano The project´s name was changed to Civano: A Model Sustainable Community. And the project´s focus also changed and broaden from solar energy to sustainability and resulted into a Master Development Plan.

1996 | Civano Community 1200-acre New Urbanism development with 4 neighborhoods consisting of 2700 houses, mixeduse town center and business park by designed Andres Duany, Stefanos Polyzoides, William McDonough and Design Carrettes.

Source: Google Earth

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“The story of Civano is ultimately a story of local heroes carrying forward a noble and important mission...”

Robert Cook Former Chair, Tucson/Pima County Metropolitan Energy Commission Co-Founder, Sustainable Tucson

Initially the idea of the project was based on ambitious concept of New Urbanism. “in 1980s this was a unique undertaking” (Al Nichols, Jason Laros, 2009, p. 8 ). The plot, required from the Arizona State Land Department, should be developed to a green demonstration community, which performs the best features of sustainability: high density, diversity, mixed housing, total elimination of cars and replacement of them with public transport or other environmentally friendly alternatives, affordability and provision of at least one job per household. During the research process some of these features had to be denied due to the market and public mindsets. As the project was so innovative for its time, developers and realtors faced with numerous difficulties. To be competitive to other offers, developers had not only to teach their staff the requested principles and explain the benefits of sustainable technologies and economical indicators of passive houses, but also it was important to educate their prospective

10 | case study CIvano Community

and existing customers. Nevertheless, the process moved on. While Phase II (Sierra Morado) was given to one company, Phase I of Civano project was divided between several developers who followed the concept, and according to evaluation figures by 2009 Phase I was considered to be the most successful realization of the community idea.

Coordinators, engineers, designers and developers worked at two levels (physical and social) to achieve the best of sustainability. Such practice proves, how strongly these two spheres are interconnected, how they support, complement and influence each other.

At the urban design level Civano Phase I is more detailed and diverse than the rest of development. The variety of materials and engineering systems, used in design adjusted to Sonoran Desert, make the plot a showcase of sustainable building approaches(Al Nichols, Jason Laros, 2009, p.150).

Sreetscape

Recycling

Neighborhood I roads scale from two-way streets down to

“As part of the review process, buildings are required to

paths, sidewalks and trails, which are designed to provide

provide built-in recyclable

walkability and reduce car usage as much as possible.

separation features” (Al Nichols, Jason Laros, 2009, p.

Solar power

167), as well as multiple recycling containers outdoors.

According to Civano’s Sustainable Energy Standard “all new construction must demonstrate prior to building, their intent to provide “beneficial solar” in their projects” (Al Nichols, Jason Laros, 2009, p.158). The most commonly used devices are photovoltaic solar panels and variety of solar water-heating systems.

Water In order to adapt the neighborhood to the local desert climate, water draining and water harvesting systems were widely introduced on urban and building levels.

Materials Using regional, recyclable building materials, such as insulated concrete, straw bales, adobe, structural panels and steel provided the variety of shape and texture and made a strong connection to local environment.

HVAC Besides shape, the climate control in the buildings is realized by cooling towers, air-to-air heat pumps and gas thermal heat. The aim is to make energy-savings affordable.

Source: Al Nichols, Jason Laros. Inside the Civano Project – A Case Study of Large-Scale Sustainable Neighborhood. 2009 Sustainable urbanism learning from | 11

social capital

physical capital

Sustainability characteristics of Civano (own scheme)

12 | case study CIvano Community

Though, for a development to be called sustainable, all factors are important, social interactions and use of public space in frames of the New Urbanism design is an interesting aspect we can learn from Civano. It is true that some scholars have criticized that physical forms can create community. And it is also true that “physical solutions by themselves will not solve social and economic problems, but neither can economic vitality, community stability, and environmental health be sustained without a coherent and supportive physical framework (E.Schwaller, 2012,p.4).

addressed the deep human aspirations that people were expressing...�(A. Nichols, J. Laros, 2009, p. 25) Our aim is to evaluate if the Civano Community, being a successful example of the New Urbanism strategies, has achieved the experiences with feeling tied to place (neighborhood) and people (neighbors) and answer the following question: Is Civano a good example of a Genuine Community and Sense of Place?

Community involvement was the key point in the development since the very beginning. The sense of community was born at the earliest stages of the project because of involving people in planning process, though it was a new practice even for the State. It caused a lot of interest and excitement about concept. People wanted to live in this community as they participated and could express what they wanted to see in the plan. About early stages of planning Wane Moody said: “there was no private developer or anything like that. But that was so moving to see the marketability potential of a community that really

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14 | lessons of sustainability CIvano Community

Source: https://www.facebook.com/CivanoNeighbors/photos_stream

3. lessons of sustainability According to Critical Regionalism theory there is a set of characteristics that an urban form has to embrace in order to be unique and offer its residents a place where they can identify as unique human beings too. Sense of place and consequently Sense of community are both important for constructing better

individual experiences with more extensive social networks and friendship patterns for healthier and meaningful life (D. Kelbaugh, 2002, T. Beatley, 2005, P. Newman, I. Jennings, 2008). Below we describe how the main aspects regionalism are reflected in Civano community.

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Sense of History

This point focuses on learning lessons of the history of the place in order to celebrate every place’s uniqueness and recognize its cultural features.

The story of community was based on specialty of place and history. The name Civano refers to the golden era of the late classic period of the Hohokam, the native people, who developed sophisticated systems in the Tucson region (Simmons B. Buntin, Ken Pirie, 2013), which keeps the connection with the past of the area. It was a way to preserve the “songlines” of the community, being necessary for recognizing its cultural features that complement and enhance the character and human appeal of a place (P. Newman, I. Jennings, 2008, p. 146). The sense of history can be also seen in the style of the homes. Often boldly colored houses follow these ideas by regional desert vernacular, barriostyle examples.

These features can be observed more clearly in the Community Center where local materials and techniques were used for the construction. “When design rhymes across time it demonstrates a sense of history, and when it rhymes across space, it reinforces a sense of place” (P. Newman, I. Jennings, 2008, p. 84)

16 | lessons of sustainability CIvano Community

Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/Hohokam_cliff_dwelling_(Montezuma_Castle),_Arizona.jpg

Source: http://www.mparchitects.com/site/projects/ civano-new-town-patio-homes

Source: http://www.mparchitects.com/site/projects/ civano-new-town

Source: http://www.city-data.com/forum/general-us/843161-best-city-southwest-7.html

Source: http://www.penick.net/digging/?p=26317

18 | lessons of sustainability CIvano Community

Sense of Place

Sense of place recognizes and emphasizes the unique qualities of the community, honors local climate, topography, vegetation, building materials and building practices, prefers authenticity, design to make natural and cultural processes more visible (E. Schwaller, 2012, D. Kelbaugh, 2002).

Though there was no architectural heritage to preserve, the design was highly related to natural Sonoran Desert environment and celebrated local architectural styles. Usage of local materials in buildings (wood, recycled steel framing, structurally insulated panels, RASTRA blocks or straw bales), respond to local climate (solar control glazing, architectural overhangs, air handles and ducts technologies), topography and vegetation became the basis for connection between the space and inhabitants.

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Sense of nature

Sense of nature comes from understanding of natural environment, restoring key elements of cities natural and cultural heritage.

Civano’s native landscaping approach is based on Comprehensive landscape guidelines. These guidelines on the one hand provide a list of alloweable native and near-native plants and on the other restrict a wide variety of plants that can though grow in Civano with enough water, but do not meet Sonoran Desert character (S. B. Buntin, K. Pirie, 2013). The neighbors have keep this practices by transplanting native trees like mesquite and palo verde, and cacti like saguaro.

Though new to desert plants, the Shipleys and their Civano Nursery have recorded the highest successful Sonoran desert transplant rates in history. “It’s three times as lush in the neighborhood as it was before the neighborhood was here” (A. Nichols, J. Laros, 2009, p.73). It shows the high commitment and strong connection of the residents with the nature, their responsibility for it.

20 | lessons of sustainability CIvano Community

Source: http://www.fortmcdowelldestination.com/home-slide/sonoran-desert-sunrise/

Source: http://www.fortmcdowelldestination.com/home-slide/sonoran-desert-sunrise/

Sense of kraft

The sense of craft in Civano can be interpreted in two scales.

On the big scale, the most important feature is the usage and revival of local old techniques for constructing and the utilization of RASTRA blocks and adobe as materials, which respond to the local climate. Another important part of the project is the Nursery garden, where the residents can grow their own food or plant local species. It represents crafting in a way that encourages people to think in longer terms about the environment they take care of and become responsible.

On a micro level, the community itself has a set of cultural events during the whole year for kids and adults, where residents can demonstrate or even sell their artistic works (Civano Neighbors Community Association). One of the most important events is the painting contest to celebrate the Earth’s day. It works as part of the local “green� education they want to share with young generation.

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Sense of limits

Sense of limits is the human need for finitude in the built environment.

The New Urbanism ideas in Civano are interpreted in the urban form by reducing the width of the streets and locating the garages in the back fronting alleyways in the majority of the cases. It gives an opportunity to have porches fronting the street and. These practices allow to reduce the scale, avoid the distant facades creating inviting atmosphere for interaction between private and public spaces. The project is widely pedestrian and bicycle oriented, including series of paseos through the city’s green and desert country areas and wide net of bicycle paths (S. B. Buntin, K. Pirie, 2013). It has been proved by Civano residents reporting more frequently that they walk 37% more in their current neighborhood than in the immediate sustainable developments Sierra Morado or Mesquite Ranch. As do Civano residents report around 50% more cycling now that they live in their current neighborhood in comparison to Sierra Morado and Mesquite Ranch (E. Schwaller, 2012).

24 | lessons of sustainability CIvano Community

Source: http://www.fortmcdowelldestination.com/home-slide/sonoran-desert-sunrise/

“Civano has proven that if you build it better, they will come—but it doesn’t mean they will come for the reasons you originally thought”.

Al Nichols, Jason Laros Inside the Civano Project – A Case Study of Large-Scale Sustainable Neighborhood

26 | lessons of sustainability CIvano Community

Most of people have a need to belong, to be part of something, and there are many ways this socialization occurs in the neighborhoods. But the important point is that place should be designed to foster connectivity and social gathering. Civano community is a good case to see how the participatory design in combination with sense of history, place, nature, craft and limits encourage people to emphasize local, to value engagement and participation and to live active life. These strong connections to the region and ability to be responsible for nature integrally come with the sense of community and support it through the whole life cycle.

Places that provide the spaces, reasons, and opportunities for people to come together, to share their passions, hopes and troubles, will be healthier, stronger places and places where people trust and care about each other (P. Newman, I. Jennings, 2008, p. 146).

Civano has proven that if you build it better, they will come—but it doesn’t mean they will come for the reasons you originally thought

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28 | case study Guayaquil

Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/franciscoalvaradoleon/5323992283

4. case study: guayaquil Being an economic center of Ecuador, every year Guayaquil (officially Santiago de Guayaquil) attracts more and more industries, businesses and people.

However, during the previous decades before 1992,

the city had no urban policies and its development depnded on improvised plans of the local authorities.

This approach led to significant traffic problems and increasing urban sprawl tendency.

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316.42 sq km

Source: Google Earth

overview

location Southern coast of Ecuador, South America

population 2 291 158 inhabitants + 2 684 016 floating population

landscape Situated on thewestern bank of Guayas river, which flows into the Pacific Ocean at the Gulf of Guayaquil and is formed as a result of confluence of two smaller rivers called Daule and Babahoyo.

Such position generates an interesting fluvial network within the city.

River represents 8.1% of iGuayaquil’s total area (Municipality of Guayaquil, 2015).

Source: Google Earth

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Malecon 2000 Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/sam601601/3794176314

In 1992, a new administration was elected and a planning process to increase infrastructure in the city was started, bringing opportunities to increase social capital and to revitalize the image of Guayaquil in order to attract new investors and tourists.

The overall plan is called “Urban Regeneration” and its most representative project is the “Malecon 2000”, which includes a set of riverwalks going along the Guayas River and its main branches.

One of the biggest challenges for the city is the rapid growth of its population and the need for housing, which has given the origin to expanding housing developments. And after almost 15 years of urban changes, there are still some critics concerning the implementation of policies and achievement of stated goals.

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34 | lessons learned Recommendations

http://www.imex.easy-it.org/costa.html

5. lessons learned: recommendations Sustainable urbanism learning from | 35

Source: http://www.taringa.net/comunidades/ecuatorianos/7140296/ El-Otro-Guayaquil-Transito.html

transportation problem The rapid growth of the population and some informal settlements in the north part of Guayaquil have led to a chaotic and improvised creation of roads. As a result of an economic ‘boom’ of private housing in the form of gated communities, nowadays the city has several areas that can only be connected to the city with one common main street, which cause enormous traffic jams during the day time.

Public transport in the city is represented by Metrovia - the system of buses with its own exclusive lane and stops. Though it significally reduces the number of vehicle transitting through the center, the problem with the service is that it only works for the limited part of the city (southern neighborhoods). All the other residents who need to travel to/through the center still have to use additional commuter public transport, which is not integrated with Metrovia, or have to rely on private transportation.

recommendation Alternative transportation ways can improve connectivity and public transport integration.

Relying on flat landscape, a network of bicycle paths throughout the city and Shared Bicycle System (BiciQuito) in combination with safe and wide pedestrian sidewalks can be implemented. Another option is a Shared Car System, which have helped to reduce traffic and the necessity of families to own a car in other big cities, like Berlin and Washington (Culture of Sharing in Germany, 2015).

BiciQuito Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tamarackgold/10597920053 Sustainable urbanism learning from | 37

urban sprawl problem Uncontrolled urban growth followed by illegal settlemets in the peripheries of the city is the result of functional zoning, which is the main criteria used for the policies of the local authorities. Although some regulations have been implemented to control informal neighborhoods, the urban developers reinforce horizontal and low density projects, that increase the sprawl and reshaping of agricultural lands for urbanization.

Street in Barcelona Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nuzhataziz/8565524520 38 | lessons learned Recommendations

recommendation Contrary to current policies, the development trends should be guided by the aim of creation a network of neighborhoods. It means that although each area of the city has unique characteristics and specialization, it should not be overspecialized.

Inclusion of amenities that meet the everyday needs of inhabitants, like education, entertainment, work and trade is a feature, that creates small social centers and strengthen social infrastructure. This process occurs naturally, but when authorities and developers are unclear about the steps and tactics that create a real city. If only the housing component is given, it forces residents to move to other areas searching for education, commerce and offices. In frames of this approach the strategy of converting brownfields to high denisty developmets can be implemented to provide housing and stop the growth of the urban limits of the city.

Diversity, increased density and vertical developmet can stop urban sprawl and provide better infrastructure. which includes green areas. Being attracted by closeness of all the necessary amenities, people will have a reason to abandon sprawled horisontal developments.

Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/omkevin/218501704/in/photostream/ encabezadotwii.jpg

sense of nature: water problem The rapid urban growth and unplanned development of the city had a strong impact on the natural areas, which surround Guayaquil. Former rural areas and plots for agricultural use nowadays are being taken for housing construction. Evaluations show that there is 1.13m2 of green areas per inhabitant. These figures are dramatically lower than 8m2 recommended by the Organizacion Mundial de la Salud (OMS). There are some attempts to increase the number, but the only big park in the city at the moment is the Samanes Park (Eva Cavero, 2013).

The increase of urban land and landfills affected the ecosystem of Salado Estuary and the Guayas river.

In one case it reduce the number of marshes together with local species, who live there. In the other case, slums, which illegally appear along the banks, strongly harm the habitat by disposing their waste directly into the waters, promoting pollution and increasing disease (from the interview with Julio Cesar Fernandez) (Redacci贸n Guayaquil, 2013). recommendation Urban limits have to be set and extensive urbanization should be avoided. Here a lot depends on housing policies, which should be changed to encourage vertical development in order to have more green areas, to create vegetation networks within the city, parks and support for the price of neighborhoods infrastructure. Well maintained green space encourages social interaction, and increases community integration and support (Frances E. Kuo, William C. Sullivan, 2001; Crime and vandalism - challenges and pactical considerations) To resolve the situation, the river and its confluents should be decontaminated and strategies involving citizens to take care of banks should be created. At some point, rehabilitation of fishing activitiy as it existed around 30 years ago can become a strong support for awareness of people about the role of river in their daily life.

40 | lessons learned Recommendations

Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/presidenciaecuador/7782885958

Sustainable post-tsunami reconstruction master plan. Alejandro Aravena - Elemental, Santiago, Chile Source: http://www.holcimfoundation.org/Awards/regional-holcim-awards-2011-latin-america/Winners Sustainable urbanism learning from | 41

Source: http://ciudadceleste.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/encabezadotwii.jpg

Local species in Parque Historico Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/edebell/6709569801 42 | lessons learned Recommendations

sense of nature: flora problem In the search of development with an international image (following American Dream), most of the sectors of Guayaquil have pavement roads and narrow pedestrian paths with long lines of palm trees, wich provide little or no shadow at all. This becomes a real problem as the average temperature is +27 Celsius degrees with 12 hours of sunlight every day of the year. It causes the increase of 3 degrees within the city center.

The contamination of water bodies and the urbanization on its banks resulted in 60% is mud and water without oxygen, which can bring sicknesses like cholera and hepatitis (Daniel Ortega Pacheco, 2012). Poorest areas are the most affected by the odours and debris permeating their floating houses making them more vulnerable to landslides.

recommendation The water bodies should be considered as part of the recreational capital and taken as part of the landscape but not as a residual space. Discharging curbing wastewater is the first step to protect and recover natural banks and shores of rives to prevent floodings on rainy seasons.

On a city policy level specific plan of use and exploitation for recovery of evicted landscaping areas and/or spread of suburban sectors should be develooped (Daniel Ortega Pacheco, 2012).

The necessary shade in the streets could be provided through the change of palm trees to local species, as far as climate and closeness to water allows to germinate and nurture them. They should be brought beyond the boarders of Historical Park.

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sense of place problem The last 15 years of urban regeneration process have brought to Guayaquil a lot of benefits, like beautification of streets, inclusion of urban furniture, and creation of squares in touristic areas. The biggest and the most successful projects are the Malecon 2000 and the Malecon Del Salado - river walks that go along the Guayas River and its confluents.

Nevertheless, as X. Andrade says, the “urban regeneration is characterized by the importation of “an aesthetic language of a generic global tourism”. Palm trees, pavers, sinks, KFCs, McDonald’s, are used as ideals of a way of being and consume. A comprehensive urban landscape, has been lost in Guayaquil, and it has turned into a place of neutralized sensitivity and lacking of complexity of the urban experience (Arduino Tomasi, 2014). The city only has two public museums, and it is easy to imagine that young adults recognize their favorites public spaces as shopping centers or fast food franchises (Ileana Velazques. , 2011). recommendation Guayaquil should recognize its own history and identity as a port city. Urban planning can help to enhance this by the urban form and provision of more places for display of art, concerts and various expressions of local culture. The city needs specialized places to enhance history of traditional neighborhoods and create more complex urban experiences through several options of urban image.

Guayaquil needs public places where young and adults can express and recognize themselves as part of the city and its culture. It needs more changes to small and local entrepreneurs to act as gentrifies, since it is a god way to find a natural creation of urban image related with local lifestyles. Traditional typologies of the city could be recovered through usage of local materials, such as wood or bamboo.

44 | lessons learned Recommendations

Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/24963467@N06/2815650476

Use of balcony and „chazas“ to protect facades of sun Source: http://kondor-tour.info/atracciones Sustainable urbanism learning from | 45

Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/iarce/4334404765

Grande Arche de La Defense, Paris Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cacphotos/8155389994 46 | lessons learned Recommendations

social capital problem As it was already mentioned earlier, flast years of urban regeneration which intended to create more public safe spaces for the city, some policy problems can be defined and analyzed.

The Malecon 2000 as the main project, has not achieved the goal to promote gentrification in the city center and in reality even can be hardly called a public space, because during the construction process local authorities decided to add a fence to ease the control of possible crimes and attempts to damage public property. Guards watch people to follow the rules of “good moral”, which cause discrimination to anyone that choose to act or look different (José Núñez del Arco, 2010, Derecho de admision en los malecones de la ciudad, 2004). As consequences of these actions, young adults feel free to express themselves in food courts of shopping centers and in fast food franchises in public spaces.

This represents an obstacle for the creation of social networks, since the kind of connections that can be built havs first to follow the first rule to go to private “public places”: you have to buy something to be there. recommendation City urban policies should take into consideration provision of public spaces to satisfy different group of ages, interests and ethnicities without limiting it with rules or fences. After all, fence is not the one-size-fits-all tool protection tool...

Antisocial behavior can be prevented through the urban form, for example with vegetation, extra illumination in problematic areas.

For creating and supporting of social capital and achieving the sense of community city can encourage activities that will gather people with same interests and provide secure public spaces and buildings for active public life.

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interview: transportation. problems and solutions

JULIO CÉSAR FERNÁNDEZ G. Architect of Universidad de Guayaquil Designer and manager of urban developer LFG since 1998.

Making an observation about this, it can be said that although it is improving the road system of the city, the change has meant that in some sectors, “the cure is worse than the disease” why? Because the pathways that were chosen for the operation of the “Metrovia” are precisely tracks that were previously used as “fast” lanes.

48 | lessons learned Recommendations

Luis Alfonso Saltos Espinoza Architect of Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil Master of Urban regional planning of Universidad de Buenos Aires CEO of Urban Regional planning consulting office CITYURB Consultor of the land planning office for Montalvo, Los Rios province, Ecuador.

It should be increased the use of mass public transport systems by the population with private vehicles, to achieve this, it is not only necessary to provide lines and frequencies that meet real needs for mobility, source destination, etc ., but with the quality and standards of comfort requesting the population.

6. conclusions The city, any city will always have aspects that will be discussed and will always offer opportunities to learn from other examples and improve urban life.

After studiyng Civano and other cases as examples, the recommendations for Guayaquil can be summarized: • Creation of green corridors network to provide connection to natural assets and protect natural species and micro enviroments.

• Consider the water bodies as part of the capital of the city for tourism and an alternative mean of transportation.

• Encourage local identity by the use of local typology and local materials.

• Imitate new creative ways to diminish car traffic as car and bicycle sharing.

• Creation of bicycle and pedestrian friendly urban infrastructure

Besides the urban form and design approach, as urban planners we should also take into conideration the following:

• From all studied exmples it is noteable that their success is the result of governmental policies, which take the community as an executive part of the projects. They have responsibilities in the pursuing of objectives.

• Continuity of the initiatives is enhanced with education activities to increase awareness of nature, rights and responsibilities that citizens have in their urban space.

• We have to change our mindset from consuming to saving and closing the loops. The aim should be not to stop consuming, because is something almost impossible, but what we can change is the way we consume.

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50 | references

7. references 1. Douglas Farr, Sustainable Urbanism, Urban design with nature, Journal of the American Planning Association, Winter 2009, Vol. 75, Issue 1, p97-98. 2p. 1 Black and White Photograph 2. Simmons B. Buntin, Ken Pirie, Unsprawl: Remixing Spaces as Places, Urban Insight Inc., 2013 3. D. Kelbaugh. Repairing the American Metropolis: Common Place Revisited. 2002 4. Ellen Schwaller. Effects of Neighborhood Design on Residential Habits and Sense of Community: Testing the Claims of New Urbanism. 2012.

5. P. Newman, I. Jennings. Cities as sustainable ecosystems: principles and practices. 2008 6. Timothy Beatley. Native to Nowhere: Sustaining Home and Community in a Global Age. 2005 7. Al Nichols, Jason Laros. Inside the Civano Project – A Case Study of Large-Scale Sustainable Neighborhood. 2009 8. Civano Neighbors Community Association http://civanoneighbors.com/2013/05/12/events/upcoming-events/.

(30-01-2015) 9. Municipality of Guayaquil. http://www.guayaquil.gob.ec/mi-guayaquil [own trasnlation]. (27-01-2015) 10. Culture of Sharing in Germany, www.young-germany.de/topic/live/culture-of-sharing-in-germany. (02-02-2015) 11. Eva Cavero, La cara verde del urbanismo guayaquileño. El Telegrafo newspaper. 2013. [own translation] http:// expreso.ec/expreso/plantillas/nota.aspx?idart=5277399&idcat=19308&tipo=2. (28-01-2015) 12. Redacción Guayaquil, Estrangulamiento del estero mató la pesca del Palanqueado. El Telegrafo newspaper. 2013. http://telegrafo.com.ec/noticias/guayaquil/item/estrangulamiento-del-estero-mato-la-pesca-del-palanqueado.html.

(28-01-2015)

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13. Redacción Guayaquil, Aguas de Puerto Lisa se tornaron turbias hace tres décadas . El Telegrafo newspaper. 2013. http://telegrafo.com.ec/noticias/guayaquil/item/aguas-de-puerto-lisa-se-tornaron-turbias-hace-tres-decadas.html.

(28-01-2015) 14. Frances E. Kuo, William C. Sullivan, “Environment and crime in the inner city: Does vegetation reduce crime?”

Environment and Behavior, 2001, 33(3), 343-367.

15. Crime and vandalism – challenges and practical considerations. http://www.forestry.gov.uk/fr/infd-8agdwj. (3001-2015) 16. Arduino Tomasi, Guayaquil, Shallow Wharhol Inc., 2014 [own translation] http://www.gkillcity.com/articulos/elmirador-politico/guayaquil-shallow-warhol-inc. (04-02-2015) 17. Ileana Velazques. Aporte de las representaciones comunicacionales en la configuración de la identidad urbana del adulto joven en la ciudad de Guayaquil, 2011 [Own translation] http://www2.ucsg.edu.ec/dmdocuments/AUC31.pdf. (31-01-2015) 18. Daniel Ortega Pacheco. 5 Acciones Necesarias para Recuperar el Estero Salado, 2012 [Own translation] http://ortega-pacheco.blogspot.de/2012/08/5-acciones-necesarias-para-recuperar-el.html 19. Daniel Ortega Pacheco. Si podemos recuperar el Estero Salado, 2012 [own translation] http://www.gkillcity.com/ articulos/chongo-cultural/si-podemos-recuperar-el-estero-salado 20. José Núñez del Arco. Los muertos toman Guayaquil, 2010. http://goo.gl/SjwgSB. (09-02-2015) 21. Derecho de admision en los malecones de la ciudad. El Universo newspaper. 2004. http://goo.gl/4y2trg. (09-022015) 22. Remita Thomas. T1- On growth and form – D’Arcy W. Thompson. http://www.iaacblog.com/maa2013-2014advanced-architecture-concepts/page/15/ (30-01-2015) 23. Stratford-on-Avon District Council. Planning and Community Safety. Design and crime reduction. 2006. http:// www.stratford.gov.uk/files/seealsodocs/4198/Planning%20and%20Community%20Safety.pdf. (30-01-2015) 24. Urbagram. Microplexes Rev 1. http://www.urbagram.net/v1/revision/Microplexes?rev=1 (30-01-2015.)

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