Multiscalar Method for the Morpho-typological Analysis of Social Housing Architecture. The Public Working-class Neighborhoods of Guayaquil (1937-1948)

Abstract

The objective of this article is to provide a detailed description of the multiscalar analysis method used for the morpho-typological characterization of social housing architecture in the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador. To conduct this study, a scalar approach was selected to establish significant relationships between the various scales involved in the analysis: the urban complex, the grouping of dwellings, and the housing types. Furthermore, both quantitative and qualitative aspects were integrated to form a comprehensive and coherent body of study. The results of the multiscale analysis method enable the morpho-typological comparison of quantitative parameters and qualitative aspects at different scales of approximation across five housing complexes of notable urban and architectural complexity. The case studies propose a redefinition of the problem of housing and the dimensions of the collective, which is reflected in the diversity of urban morphologies and building types analyzed. The significance of this research lies in its potential to elucidate the morpho-typological values that these working-class neighborhoods possess as heritage from the initial sets of modern architecture in the city. These findings can inform the development of new social housing projects, offering an alternative to current urban development models in Guayaquil.