Potencialidades das esquinas urbanas para o microplanejamento das cidades

Abstract

The dynamic wheel that connects people and buildings is what tones and gives reason to the urban space. It is observed that these movements and energies tend to happen intensely in the intersections between the roads and especially in the corners, those nodal points whose spatiality brings together the citizens, giving density to a network of flows and daily interpersonal relationships. Due to the tensions generated by the intensification of mobility, urban road intersections have been the object of study and project interventions. However, street corners, as part of intra-urban spatiality, remain almost unexplored in terms of their potential for walkability and sociability. As a contribution to this theme, the present work investigates the role of street corners for the microplanning of urban public spaces, understanding that they are essential components for the construction of more humanized and healthier cities. Thus, it seeks to identify and describe the corner typologies in the city of Fortaleza, to understand how and the extent to which individuals relate to these spaces and, finally, to identify criteria that characterize their quality as public micro-spaces. In this perspective, the methodology adopted has a quali-quantitative nature and uses iCam as an assessment tool for walkability, in addition to instruments of direct and indirect observation for behavioral assessment and quality for sociability. To this end, this study was based on the set of 18 types of city blocks proposed by the Fortaleza 2040 Plan. The results achieved point to the existence of at least nine corner patterns based on land use and occupation. Likewise, it indicates the low quality of the corners in the capital of Ceará for walkability. With regards to sociability, there was a greater potential for interaction in commercial and mixed use street corners, in opposition to multi-family residential street corners. On the other hand, the single-family residential corners have divergent results, it is necessary to analyze other criteria about the neighborhood in which they are inserted. Finally, it can be highlighted that the quality criteria of public spaces, even if they are known on street corners, must consider the possibilities of new indicators in order to value the particularities and potential of this nodal point.