Protection of Relevant Sights in the Historic Center of Camagüey, an Urban Management Tool for Decision-Making

Abstract

Objective: To design an urban management tool that facilitates spatial decision-making, as a way of protecting relevant sights of historic urban landscapes, based on an integrated vision of urban management and its instruments. Its practical application is to take place in the historic center of Camagüey City, Cuba.

Methods: Direct observation of sights during field works; surveys, and interviews to several different social groups and experts for validation of geographical information in the analysis of various components and variables.

Main results: The demarcation of protection zones and sight units, with priority levels for action and specific urban regulations in these areas, which enable urban control with respect to height restrictions for buildings, the breakdown of building units, aerial infrastructure, roof change, uses, materials, and so on.

Conclusions: This tool contributes to a more accurate and quicker response to investments in the historic center, and the establishment of specific intervention strategies, in order to enhance the visual quality of urban landscapes, which is critical to achieve local identity.