Diseño arquitectónico de un centro gastronómico en la cabecera cantonal de Píllaro, Tungurahua

Abstract

This graduation project focuses on the architectural design of a gastronomic center in the cantonal capital of Píllaro, Tungurahua province, in response to the lack of specialized facilities that integrate agri-food production, culture, and tourism. The proposal emerges from a context marked by the underutilization of local gastronomic potential, the disconnection of cultural practices, and the exclusion of social groups from public spaces. The research is framed within the paradigm of critical regionalism, employing a qualitative approach and a descriptive scope. The methodology is structured in three phases: analysis of the Provincial Family Park as a reference case, interviews with experts in vernacular architecture and gastronomy, and development of the architectural parti. The findings revealed functional limitations in existing infrastructures and established design criteria based on territorial identity, sustainability, and spatial adaptability. The proposal reinterprets the vernacular patio house typology from a contemporary perspective, incorporating local materials, passive bioclimatic strategies, and inclusive design. The architectural program articulates consumption, training, and commercialization areas around a central patio as a social interaction core. This intervention seeks to position Píllaro as a gastronomic tourism destination, promote solidarity-based economies, and preserve culinary traditions through contextually sensitive architecture.