Decumanus

Evolution of placelessness in the context of the urban edge

Adaliz Catalina Martínez Hernández — Fri, 30 May 2025 00:00:00 -0600

The purpose of the following reflection is to question the place, placelessness and the urban ontological elements on the urban edges. First, the concept of urban edge is analyzed and its ontological dimension is questioned based on the observations of Hiernaux (2006). And the evolution of the concept of placelessness addressed by the humanist geographer Edward Relph in 1976 and 2016 continues to be examined, under the reflections of Arjun Appadurai (2001), regarding the social and cultural changes triggered by phenomena such as globalization, migrations and the electronic mass media. It is concluded that it is important not to reduce the concepts, elements or problems considering that everything has an influence, not only local but also global, that today everything is mixed and that there is a diversity of imaginaries building the city.

Gender and the city. Mobility of care in Ciudad Juárez

Isaac Chaparro Hernández, Christian Lorena Moreno Lizárraga — Fri, 30 May 2025 00:00:00 -0600

This research was conducted in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, and addresses the mobility of care, an issue that directly involves the female gender and its relationship with urban space. The diverse and multiple trips that women make, without being paid, are mostly related to the care of their dependents such as family members, people with chronic degenerative diseases, people with disabilities, the elderly, among others. It discusses how women develop skills and abilities to dedicate time and effort to care for themselves and their dependents, which involves managing personal resources for the benefit of others. This article uses the results of a study conducted in 2019, in which an Origin-Destination Survey (ODS) was applied to a representative sample covering the entire city. Gender-related variables were considered to analyze daily mobility patterns at macro and micro levels. The categories of analysis included: household, sociodemographic characteristics, travel motives, means of transportation, and physical frictions. The results showed that women in this city experience daily hypermobility characterized by a greater number of trips, times, distances, costs, and accompaniment compared to men. In conclusion, the importance of women’s movements in this border region is evident, highlighting the need for more research in this area as well as the development of programs to redesign transportation and policies that guarantee inclusive mobility and a better quality of life, especially for women and vulnerable populations.

Relationship between urban and social identity: A proposal for the study of community identity in working-class neighborhoods on the outskirts

Mariana Teresa Silveyra Rosales — Fri, 30 May 2025 00:00:00 -0600

Community identity in working-class neighborhoods on the outskirts is a complex construction that integrates urban and social elements; there is a lack of comprehensive research that explores how the physical environment and social dynamics combine to form this identity. This study analyzes the interrelationship between the physical environment and social dynamics in the construction of community identity in working-class neighborhoods on the outskirts of Cuernavaca, Morelos, and identifies the urban and social factors that influence it to propose a series of strategies to strengthen it as part of a resistance to forced displacement. It examines how social networks, cultural practices and citizen participation influence in the construction of social identity; the above from the comparison of two neighborhoods: La Barona and Chamilpa, where patterns and variations in the formation of community identity are identified. The study is carried out from a qualitative methodology that includes interviews, focus groups and participant observation to collect the perspectives of residents on their identity and environment; in addition, a survey is used to obtain statistical data on residents’ perceptions of their identity. The research reveals that there are three dimensions that constitute the formation of this identity: physical, social and symbolic; where the following are considered: quality of public space, infrastructure, urban equipment, community participation and social networks. Differences were found between neighborhoods influenced by their physical characteristics such as their location, heritage buildings and social dynamics. The interdependence between urban and social factors in the formation of community identity is emphasized. Among the contributions of this research we have the proposal to integrate the participatory design of public spaces to promote social cohesion, integration with nature and the revaluation of symbolic spaces in order to strengthen existing social networks, which provides a basis for future inclusive urban policies that function as resistance to policies and forced displacements. Furthermore, a methodology is provided for the analysis of social, urban and community identities that integrate social, physical and symbolic dimensions.

Universal accessibility in Magical Town Mascota, Jalisco: Evaluation of the streets

Adriana Yunuen Dávalos Pita — Fri, 30 May 2025 00:00:00 -0600

In the context of the Sustainable Development Goals, cities aspire to comply with the principles of universal accessibility, ensuring that individuals with diverse abilities can enjoy urban spaces. This commitment is paramount in fostering the transformation of cities into sustainable models. Destinations classified as Magical Towns assume a pivotal role in the pursuit of sustainable development, both at the local and regional levels. These towns, renowned for their cultural and natural heritage, are obligated to ensure that their spaces are inclusive. Effective urban design fosters competitiveness among destinations, enhancing the quality of life and exerting a profound societal impact by promoting inclusion across diverse dimensions. Mascota, Jalisco, designated a Magical Town in 2015, plays a pivotal role for travelers by road as well as for those who traverse the Magical Towns region, Talpa de Allende and San Sebastián del Oeste. The town of Mascota has witnessed an uptick in tourism, but it remains deficient in terms of universal accessibility. The objective of this study is to evaluate the accessibility conditions in the streets of the Magical Town of Mascota, Jalisco. Variables obtained from the Space and Data platform of the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) were analyzed. The study employs a descriptive design, incorporating fieldwork and statistical data analysis using SPSS software. The sample consists of 7 AGEB, encompassing 105 blocks. The results indicate that the conditions for universal accessibility are not met, and interventions in the territory have not been approached in an integral way, leaving gaps, a lack of standards and quality, and a lack of continuity in the efforts. The central area of the Magic Town, which is the area with the most tourist activity, is deficient in accessibility conditions for visitors and residents.

Universal accessibility through design experience and participation in Tangamanga I Park, San Luis Potosí, Mexico

Fri, 30 May 2025 00:00:00 -0600

Since 1970 significant progress has been made on the inclusion of people with disabilities (PWD) in public spaces, allowing them to lead an integrated life within the community and close to nature. Global environmental and social regulatory frameworks have adopted universal design as a foundation. While Mexican regulations also embrace it, barriers in the built and natural environments continue to challenge PWD’s equal access to public spaces. The main goal of this study is to identify and understand, through participatory design methods, the access levels to nature that the Tangamanga I Park offers to everyone, but specially to PWD. This article presents the research results and the participatory process evaluation undertaken in collaboration with a PWD organization and design students and academics. Within the collaboration, a workshop was held where individuals with diverse abilities identified inclusion challenges in Tangamanga I Park. Findings show that the park, located in San Luis Potosí and Mexico’s second-largest, presents multiple accessibility barriers for people with disabilities, particularly related to signage, infrastructure, and services. Visually impaired individuals expressed that the park is not prepared for them, and mothers of children with intellectual disabilities reported discrimination. This study highlights the importance of including PWD’s in enjoying green spaces, teaching inclusion in design fields, and valuing participatory processes to foster knowledge exchange.

Metropolitan governance in Argentina. Current challenges

Claudio Marcelo Augugliaro, Ayelen Berton, María Lorena Carballo — Fri, 30 May 2025 00:00:00 -0600

This article analyzes metropolitan inter-jurisdictionality in Argentina based on eight empirical cases, addressing the limitations arising from the absence of national and provincial legal frameworks. Based on research conducted by the authors between 2023 and 2024 on twelve metropolitan areas, the study examines four key dimensions: legal framework, competencies, financing, and citizen participation. The analytical approach is based on a governance perspective, integrating contributions on intergovernmental cooperation, state capacities and institutional fragmentation. Based on the analysis of plans, regulations, interviews, and official documentation, it is found that the challenges of metropolitan governance in the country are conditioned by the lack of legal recognition and incentives for the consolidation of experiences. The findings highlight the need for a national regulatory framework that is flexible, promotes participation and takes into account the particularities of each territory. Among the key recommendations, it is proposed to incorporate financing mechanisms with co-responsibility between levels of government as well as to guarantee institutional spaces for citizen participation in metropolitan entities. As a basic consideration, it is argued that the strengthening of metropolitan governance is essential to advance towards sustainable development and democratic citizenship in complex urban environments.

Evaluation of good governance practices in the Citizen Participation Council of the Historic Center and Built Heritage of Puebla

Norma Leticia Ramírez Rosete, Rubén de Jesús Armas Diaz — Fri, 30 May 2025 00:00:00 -0600

The establishment of public bodies for the territorial management of areas of material heritage interest has become a matter of interest to citizens in the municipality of Puebla, Puebla, in recent decades. In 2006, a public body was established to assists the municipal public administration in addressing issues of protection and restoration in the polygon of the monument zone, the Citizen Participation Council of the Historic Center and Built Heritage (CPC-HC&BH). This paper evaluates the good governance practices in the CPC-HC&BH, which aims to determine the quality of its mechanisms and the instruments that have been developed to achieve democratic processes within the organization.