Understanding Streetscape Design and Temporary Appropriation in Latin American Cities: The Case of Mexico City Centre

A vast amount of literature discusses the physical attributes of a built environment for the purposes of creating lively and inclusive public spaces for the sake of its temporary appropriation by citizens. Here, the term temporary appropriation is defined as the act in which people use public spaces to carry out individual or collective activities other than the purpose for which the space was originally designed. The paper reviews relevant literature and analyses urban design elements of the streetscape that are related to the temporary appropriation. This paper identifies elements supporting temporary appropriation in the context of Mexico City Centre. The main aim of the study is to explore this relationship by assessing the softness of the streetscape and the diversity index of temporary appropriation in Mexico City Centre. The analysis and the study of the selected area may provide insight and contribute to a better understanding of this relationship within heritage city centres in Latin American cities.