La segregación espacial en Loja, el caso del conjunto Puertas del Sol

Abstract

Abstract: This study examines how socio-spatial segregation works in the city of Loja by examining the residential complex Puerta del Sol and its relationship with the surrounding neighborhood 24 de mayo . To understand what produces separation in a context of apparent economic homogeneity, this research employed a mixed-methods approach. Where the study of space, architecture and regulations was complemented by the residents voices, gathered through interviews and social mapping. This analysis revealed that segregation is a primarily symbolic phenomenon, as the choice to live in a gated community responds to a voluntary search for status and security, resulting in a proximity without integration dynamic. The residents of the complex are consumers of the neighborhood s services but do not participate in its community life, thus consolidating invisible borders that fragment the social relationships. The study s contribution lies in highlighting how self-segregation and subjective perceptions are key to understanding fragmentation in intermediate cities.