Formation and consolidation of centralities: A comparative análisis between the cities of Chapecó and Blumenau /SC

Abstract

The state of Santa Catarina, in southern Brazil, presents a peculiar urban structure when compared to the national context. Presenting several geographical, cultural and social conditions, it brings together cities that express varied urban fabrics, sometimes with very dispersed and segregated configurations, sometimes very reticulated and integrated. In this opportunity we bring to study Blumenau, a city that expresses the first characteristic, and Chapecó, a municipality representing the second situation. Different centralities have emerged and transformed in these contexts, directly influencing the use and experience of urban space. Based on this observation, we compared the structure of these two medium-sized cities identifying attributes of urban centralities through formal, functional and historical aspects. To assist in the analysis of the distinct centralities, we bring as an important methodological contribution the studies by Holanda et al. (2015) and the Spatial Syntax theory, developed by Hillier and Hanson (1984). The results found point to a strong correlation of the configurational structure with the network of centralities present in both cities analyzed, revealing places with greater or lesser possibility of gathering urban qualities and expressing diversity, attendance and quantity of people in urban space.

Keywords: Centrality, spatial configuration, urban layout, public space.