Analysis of the quality of public urban space through a graphical analysis method

Abstract

The southeast coast of Spain has been one of the examples of the construction bubble that affected this country in the last years. Everything was under construction and any piece of land may be built up. The results of this crazy process are chaotic urban structures and cities with a very low level of activity where a lack of quality at urban space conditions citizens’ life. Orihuela is a very complex municipality where up to 25 urban settlements can be found. All of them received some kind of urban development during these years but, in particular, the city of Orihuela and the Coast, 7 km of gated communities with no city structure. The city urban master plan is under revision at the moment and a different approach was demanded by the city council. A public participating process was opened where a graphical analysis method was applied. The RGBG Strategic Method gathers and classifies the different uses at public space in layers. The result of the process shows quantitative and qualitative data, objective and subjective information that allows the urban designer to get conclusions about the quality of public space and by evaluating the level of activity provide solutions to the conflicts found on the urban frame.