Dynamics of Planning in Urban Space: Spatial Morphological Growth of Portoviejo

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to analyze a Latin American urban model, using the city of Portoviejo as a case of study, to examine its morphological and spatial characteristics shaped by planning. The aim was to identify the underlying problems and their impacts on the configuration of the urban fabric, as well as on the dynamics of growth in the surrounding area. Portoviejo faces multiple issues related to its planning system, including phenomena such as gentrification, migration, social exclusion, intensive urbanization, expansion, and urban duality, all within a dispersed city model. A study of the historical growth of the urban fabric was conducted, based on two key variables: the spatial, which helps to understand the genesis of the urban structure; and the morphological, which related to the formal dynamics of the city shaped by human needs. The research applies two dimensions: historical and socio-spatial, considering past, present, and future models, to reveal how the urban space has been shaped, influenced by the positioning of regional facilities and the need for proximity to natural resources or agricultural areas.