Forms of Growth and Sustainability of Latin American Urbanization

A Comparative Study of the Peripheries of Bogotá - Buenos Aires - Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

Objective – This study proposes the application of the sustainability indicators developed by the Urban Ecology Agency of Barcelona, in order to comparatively assess how urban growth develops in Latin America and to suggest adjustments suited to the regional reality.

Methodology – Phenomenological method, in which the urban landscape of Maricá was observed and analyzed through the “Vermelhinhos” — free-fare buses that circulate throughout the city — allowing immersive observation of local experiences.

Originality/Relevance – The study is relevant for analyzing the growth and sustainability of Latin American urbanization, seeking to propose guidelines for the development of emerging cities.

Results – An affective map containing the perceptions of four different individuals, in addition to the qualitative analysis of the collected data.

Theoretical/Methodological Contributions –The analysis of the accounts reveals that age and place of origin play an essential role in shaping the emotional representations of urban spaces.

Social and Environmental Contributions – Through the research results, we can learn how people perceive and feel the city in different ways, which can help promote a healthier, more sustainable, and more humanized urbanization.