Relações entre espaços públicos e privados: características de elementos urbanos que impactam a caminhabilidade na interface público-privada na escala do lote

Abstract

Walkability, as conceptualized and referenced by renowned professionals and researchers from the 20th century onwards, can be defined as the conditions of the urban environment for pedestrian mobility, focusing on the perspective of pedestrians. Its components encompass a range of factors, from physical characteristics and details of public-private interfaces (PPIs) and intersections to themes such as thermal and acoustic comfort, urban mobility, attractiveness, socio-spatial interaction, sustainability, public and traffic safety, and health. Under this theme, the general objective of this research is to propose a walkability assessment tool adapted for application to the ppi with sidewalks segregated from the roadway, at the lot scale, using indicators and criteria linked to the exclusive or priority responsibilities and interests of individual property owners and lot possessors (iCLot tool). This tool primarily considers the municipal legislation of João Pessoa, the capital of Paraíba (Brazil). The research methodology was Applied on a literature review, followed by the selection of three main references for adapting a walkability assessment tool originally designed for the block and neighborhood scales (iCam 2.0) to the lot scale. Subsequently, the tool was applied through data collection and analysis on a representative number (8) of PPIs between lots and a caracteristic street in the Bancarios neighborhood of João Pessoa. The researched PPIs, exhibiting distinct characteristics and walkability evaluations even when situated on the same street and, in some cases, on the same block face, highlight the relevance of conducting assessments at the lot scale, rather than solely at the block and/or neighborhood scales, as is common in existing similar tools and methodologies. The proposed adaptation (iCLot) is accessible for application by students and professionals in architecture, urban planning, and civil engineering who seek to assess PPIs for purposes such as studying or developing architectural projects for buildings and sidewalks. This is particularly relevant for cities where urban legislation assigns property owners or possessors responsibilities related to the use and occupation of properties and the construction and maintenance of sidewalks and façades, as is the case in João Pessoa and other Brazilian cities. The collection and qualitative analysis of data through the application of iCLot can further support the development of projects, as well as the execution of works, and interventions aimed at improving walkability. The scores that qualify each indicator and category related to the involved PPIs are useful for prioritizing these improvement actions, considering the quality levels of the indicators and categories.