Publications
Design of a Green Corridor and the Revitalization of the Huatanay River, City of Cuzco, Peru—2024
A green corridor design for Cuzco, Peru, demonstrates significant ecological energy efficiency by leveraging natural resources to generate 13 kWh/day of energy through biodigesters, with 70% of the area dedicated to green spaces and 30% to public areas. This approach optimizes the revitalization of the Huatanay River by restoring its course, reforesting its banks, and creating recreational zones, thereby enhancing biodiversity while addressing urban expansion's environmental impact. The study utilized a four-stage methodology involving literature analysis, environmental data assessment (using tools like Climate Consultant and SIGRID), project implementation, and comparative discussion with existing literature. This design serves as a model for sustainable urban development in UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Green Corridors and Social Connectivity with a Sustainable Approach in the City of Cuzco in Peru
A proposed green corridor design for the City of Cuzco, Peru, aims to serve as an ecological lung, addressing uncontrolled urban development and a shortage of green areas that negatively impact quality of life. The study highlights the importance of balanced resource management and social organization in sustainable urban planning. Using methods such as literature review, urban analysis, and climate analysis supported by digital tools, the proposal includes 69.96% green areas for recreation, biolakes (3.18%) for environmental quality, a botanical zone (18.14%) with diverse plant species, a convention area (9.7%) for community activities, and a cultural zone (0.98%) for artistic exhibitions. This multifunctional approach seeks to counteract urban expansion, environmental degradation, and social alienation while promoting climate regulation and biodiversity. The absence of such strategies could compromise development and quality of life in Cuzco.
Cuzco: Incas, Spaniards, and the Making of a Colonial City
Cuzco's transformation from an Inca capital to a Spanish colonial city between 1534 and 1560 is meticulously reconstructed through firsthand accounts, official documents, and archaeological evidence. Unlike previous studies that focused on post-earthquake architecture, this research illuminates the city's transition during its formative years, revealing how Spanish rule reshaped Inca structures like the House of the Sun (Coricancha) into symbolic colonial landmarks, such as the Dominican convent. The study leverages primary sources from chroniclers like Juan de Betanzos and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega to trace urban changes, including the 1536–37 siege by Manco Inca and subsequent civil wars. While it lacks detailed topographical plans or distinctions between existing and hypothetical Inca walls, its rigorous analysis bridges art history and literary history, offering a nuanced account of Cuzco's layered past.
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