(In)visible Villages of the Eastern Region of Uruguay. A research and teaching project

From the isolation to the socio-territorial inclusion of postponed little localities in Maldonado, Rocha and Lavalleja

Abstract

The article ponders the research and teaching work developed at the Institute of Theory and Urbanism of the School of Architecture from 2013 to 2016. Based on the work done with Maldonado City Council, the research team identified certain weaknesses and postponements in the small towns of the Department, which did not participate in the benefits due to intense activity on the coast. Consequently, it was proposed to explore those villages in order to visualize their strengths and singularities, as well as to identify guidelines and planning instruments that could cooperate to reverse situations of socio-territorial inequality. Later, localities of the department of Rocha and Lavalleja with similar problems were included in the study, in the aim to explore common issues to the Eastern Region of Uruguay. The case studies were addressed with the optional degree course Invisible Villages.