Requalificação da Praça Menonitas

Abstract

The work consists of an understanding of the precepts of public space revitalisation and its perception and influence under the users, presenting as object of study the Menonitas Square, located in Curitiba - PR. Public spaces, especially squares, have gradually become degraded spaces and abandoned by the public power, but still remain as free areas for collective use. This site, with its predominantly residential environment, has an engaging user which has generated different processes of appropriation in spite of the of public management negligence. In this sense, the research proposes, based on the need to revitalise this urban space, a morphological rearrangement of the square, based on its users’ point of view to the local neighbourhood. In this way, concepts of space and urban revitalization, aspects of urban morphology, relations between the square and the city, projects of plazas in general and some references were studied. It was then verified that the revitalisation is an indicated instrument for the appropriation of the square by the user, and have the objective of contributing to the sustainable development and the enhancement of social welfare. The work is structured to present the theoretical reference, the analyses of the area and the systematisation of data collected during interviews and research followed by the case studies and the design proposal. Direct analyses and observations were carried out in loco, identifying the characteristics of urban use and occupation, as well as interviews with the Menonitas Square user. The results show that, despite the square being used, there is a demand for its improvement, since the original purposes, whether custom, social-commercial, or cultural-identity are not being fulfilled. The analysis of the results, the related case studies and, above all, the current conditions of the public space make it possible to propose design guidelines in order to improve the relationship of the square with its surroundings, as well as to propose new uses, revitalisation of urban equipment and furniture,and also interventions in its environment, bringing direct benefits to the surrounding population, the neighbourhood, and especially to the users.