Healthy cities and green infrastructure. Strategic design of ecological corridor system in Piura, Peru

Abstract

Among the most important features that cities present to be considered as "healthy", the following can be mentioned: one can easily walk long distances, the natural environment is present and the public space functions as a meeting place for all (Pozo and Higueras, 2020). The current hypothesis focuses on verifying the scope of design within the relationship between urban design and health, proposing that the Peruvian city of Piura (707,318 inhabitants, INEI, 2017) can benefit from this relationship, due to the natural potential of its territory, which holds a large percentage of dry Peruvian forest in addition to the existence of the Piura River. A strategic methodology is developed for the creation of green infrastructure, considering both the characteristics of its territory and its strengths, as well as local challenges. A reflection on the possibility of replicating this methodology to other cities with similar characteristics is presented as part of the conclusion.

Keywords: Healthy city, green infrastructure corridor, strategic urban design, Piura (Peru)