Diseño arquitectónico de mercado y plaza como catalizadores de encuentro social en el barrio La Ofelia, Quito-Ecuador

Abstract

This undergraduate thesis proposes the design of the Ofelia market, located in the northern area of the Metropolitan District of Quito, understanding the market and the public square as catalysts for social interaction and community strengthening. Currently, the market operates under precarious conditions, characterized by inadequate infrastructure, spatial disorganization, conflicts between pedestrian and vehicular flows, and the absence of safe spaces for vendors, users, and children who accompany their parents during working hours. The proposal presents an architectural and urban intervention organized on two levels: an active public square on the ground floor, conceived as a space for social interaction and neighborhood life, and a covered market on the upper floor, designed to improve vendor’s working conditions through adequate sales modules, complementary services, and clear spatial organization. The design is structured around a central linear axis that articulates sensory stations (color, smell, taste and knowledge) guiding the user experience and reinforcing the identity of the place. The project integrates social, spatial, functional criteria, as well as other related challenges, promoting safety, universal accessibility, proper flow management, and community coexistence. Additionally, a learning area for vendors’ children is incorporated, acknowledging the social dimension of the market as a daily space of life. In this way, the Ofelia market-plaza is conceived as a new neighborhood centrality that enhances the quality of public space and strengthens social ties within the community