Diseño de anteproyecto arquitectónico para la integración del paisaje natural y cultural en las fuentes de agua Catequilla, Tilipulo, Cotopaxi, Ecuador

Abstract

The objective of this thesis project is to create a preliminary design that integrates cultural and natural elements in the Catequilla and Tilipulo water sources, located in Cotopaxi, Latacunga. The aim is to strengthen and protect the aquatic ecosystems of the Pitigua stream basin, which have been affected by pollution, urban and agricultural expansion, and deforestation. These factors reduce environmental sustainability and negatively impact cultural practices linked to water, which is regarded as a sacred symbol and an essential part of collective memory. The theoretical foundation draws from research conducted at the Technical University of Ambato, including Jonathan Poalasin’s analysis of green areas, Joselyn Sisalema’s vegetation-based regeneration work, and Yadira Mejía’s biomimetic proposal in the Galápagos. The study also examines examples such as Chaki Wasi, Germán del Sol’s Geometric and Puritama Hot Springs, and the Cumandá Urban Park in Quito. These projects represent the integration of culture, landscape, and architecture. The theoretical framework is supported by local, national, and international regulations, including the Constitution of Ecuador 2008, the Organic Law on Water Resources, the 2030 Agenda, ILO Convention 169, and the Latacunga PDOT-PUGS. These guidelines promote preservation. The methodology follows a qualitative and participatory approach, carried out in three phases: diagnosis, systematization, and design. During the diagnostic phase, the environmental and social conditions of the site are evaluated. In the systematization stage, findings are examined through the lens of ancestral traditions and collective memory. Finally, the design phase proposes an urban–architectural intervention that promotes preservation, cultural renewal, and community identity.