VALORIZATION OF THE PERI-URBAN ANDEAN HILLSIDE LANDSCAPE: TRANSFORMATIONS, SOCIO-CULTURAL DYNAMICS, AND URBAN- ECOLOGICAL CHALLENGES. CASE STUDY : QUITO

The study of the urbanized Andean hillside goes beyond an understanding of physical territory. As a space now inhabited, in a peri-urban condition, lived in and utilized, it becomes the setting for social dynamics, knowledge systems, traditions, and the identity of populations that have historically been marginalized and excluded from urban planning and development processes. The lack of knowledge and the absence of a deep and specific analysis of the Andean hillside territory have resulted in deficient development on multiple levels, from the loss of natural elements and Andean ecological heritage to the disconnection of society from urban development processes that overlook local identity, specific needs, and the conditions and risks to which these populations are exposed. This research, employing a multiscale and multidimensional approach, aims to highlight the various elements that comprise the Andean hillside landscape in Quito, with a focus on the northwestern area of the city. It proposes a comprehensive territorial analysis based on four key dimensions: biophysical, social, historical-cultural, and political. Each dimension is addressed individually but understood as part of an interconnected territorial system. The study concludes with the proposal of a territorial analysis tool: a matrix that synthesizes the aspects addressed throughout the research. It is built upon two analytical axes: on one hand, the four aforementioned dimensions; and on the other, the three territorial scales, macro, meso, and micro. The aim is to identify, more clearly and precisely, the key elements, strengths, and also the fragile aspects of the territory. The matrix is intended to serve as a preliminary diagnostic tool for more conscious, contextualized, and sustainable urban planning.