Estoa. Journal of the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism

Influence of the quality of the definition of the activity name on the unit price

Carlos Saldaña — 2026-04-06

The dispersion among building unit prices would be considered normal since no two projects are alike; however, it is shown that price dispersion tends to decrease as the level of detail in the item name (NDN) increases. Therefore, different databases of unit prices for projects in Ecuador from the last five years are obtained to analyze the relationship between the NDN and price variations. Furthermore, the results are analyzed and discussed with reference to variables such as the location of the project, year of execution, and type of work. It is emphasized that the findings contribute, on the one hand, a guide for generating construction item names that lead to more accurate and fair cost estimates. They also provide technical arguments to regulatory bodies to determine potential underestimations or overestimations of prices.

Urban mobility and citizen perception: quality, safety, and comfort of public transportation in Bogotá

Sandra Rosero — 2026-04-06

This study analyzes how the quality, safety, and comfort of public transportation influence usage frequency and citizen satisfaction in Bogotá, within a framework of sustainable mobility and spatial justice. Based on surveys of 385 users and correlation analysis, a critical gap was identified: 60% of users perceive insecurity and 40% rate service quality negatively. Perceived quality correlates with frequency of use (r = 0.35, p < 0.05), while comfort emerges as a key factor in satisfaction. The results show that the deficit in well-being and trust limits system efficiency and reproduces territorial inequality, guiding strategies consistent with SDG 11.

Educational breakdowns. Learning proposals with games, models, prototypes, mock-ups, and detachable architectures

Alberto Bravo de Laguna Socorro — 2026-04-15

An effective way to learn architecture is through educational breakdowns, dissecting architecture with a thorough understanding of its components. Developing learning approaches with construction games, prototypes, scale models, and temporary or detachable architectures opens up an interesting field for experimentation in teaching architecture, from the beginning to the advanced stages. The use of approaches based on educational breakdowns will allow for the design of teaching strategies at various scales, ranging from the reduced scale of a model to the realistic scale of detachable architecture. For the architect, the analog model becomes the designer’s toy, with which they test the variables of a future implementation. Detachable architectures are built like a game, with parts that are assembled. Learning through breakdowns, experimenting with models and architectures, effectively blends the serious aspects of construction with the playful nature of play.

Synthesis of the Arts in Quito in the mid-20th century

Mauricio Luzuriaga — 2026-04-15

Throughout history, societies have expressed their collective identity through art in public spaces. In Quito, this tradition dates back to pre-Hispanic petroglyphs and extends through the Baroque period, which transformed church façades and interiors into narrative surfaces. In the 20th century, the city witnessed a singular phenomenon of Synthesis of the Arts: a collaboration between architects and artists that, within a short timeframe, materialized in projects linked to the Casa de la Cultura, the Universidad Central campus, and preparations for the XI Inter-American Conference of 1959. This study documents and contextualizes that exceptional moment, analyzes its aesthetic and ideological content, and assesses its value as a genuine expression of the spirit of the time. Finally, it underscores the urgency of recognizing and preserving this legacy through a critical architectural lens.

Carbon and nitrogen content in Mexico City: evidence of the influence of urban social structure

R. Isela Jasso-Flores — 2026-04-15

Globally, urban ecosystems are key to mitigating climate change. However, studies focus on developed countries, with few studies in Latin American cities. In this study, we modeled the carbon and nitrogen contents in vegetation and soil in Mexico City and evaluated how urban social inequality (social and economic development; form and structure; and functional typology of residential land uses) influences their contents. Our results indicate that lower social classes and high population densities have the lowest estimates of carbon and nitrogen. In contrast, middle and upper-middle social classes (property and construction prices) show the highest values of carbon and nitrogen. This knowledge is essential for understanding the impacts of urbanization and designing more sustainable urban planning strategies in the face of global environmental change.

E-commerce and residential density: A geospatial analysis of demand in Córdoba (Argentina)

Mateo Gamba — 2026-05-04

Electronic commerce has caused a territorial restructuring process of retail commercial activity. This trend and its implications on the physical-functional urban structure are currently subject of debate. In this context, destination points of e-commerce parcels constitute key data, since they allow to analyze the level of demand in different areas and to evaluate its correlation with various socio-urban indicators. This paper aims to analize the incidence of residential density on the volume of B2C ecommerce purchases in different areas of the City of Córdoba, Argentina. The proposed methodology uses geographic information systems (GIS) for cross-referencing geospatial data and is complemented with linear correlation calculations. The results reveal that areas with lower residential density tend to have a higher average number of purchases per home.

Percepción social y valoración del patrimonio industrial vivo: Casa Hacienda y Planta Industrial Cayaltí

Víctor Humberto González Auña — 2026-05-04

Industrial heritage is fundamental to collective memory and cultural identity, especially in agro-industrial regions such as Cayaltí, in northern Peru. The objective of this study was to analyze the social perception of the heritage value of the Cayaltí Hacienda House and Industrial Plant, identifying the dimensions of symbolic value, formal value and use value that define its potential as living heritage. A qualitative methodology was used with semi-structured interviews with twelve key social actors, using thematic coding and triangulation for the analysis. The results show a high appreciation of symbolic value shared by all groups, as well as formal recognition from technical and cultural perspectives. However, the use value presents diverse perceptions, highlighting challenges for its functional activation. It is concluded that the sustainable revaluation of heritage requires participatory strategies, heritage education, and multisectoral coordination to enable its functional recovery and social strengthening.

Analysis of potential impacts of urban air mobility in cities and their development

Oscar Díaz Olariaga — 2026-05-04

Urban Air Mobility (UAM) is an emerging mode of urban transportation based on new aeronautical, electrical, and communications technologies. However, this will present a significant challenge for urban planners, as the planning and implementation of UAM must include and consider the development of new dedicated infrastructure, the socio-urban context, local needs, and an assessment of the impact it will have on cities and their development. Therefore, the objective of this review article, which uses a quantitative systematic review methodology, is to analyze the anticipated or potential impacts that this emerging mode of transport will have on urban development. As a result, this study presents an assessment of the impacts of UAM on urban infrastructure development, the existing urban transport system, the local economy, the urban environment and ultimately, society.