Radiography of urban informality: social impact of the Villa Hermosa sector on the community of casmeña; [Radiografia da informalidade urbana: impacto social do sector de Villa Hermosa na comunidade casmiana]

Boggiano Burga M.L.; Aranibar Huacho S.B.; Matos Tarazona E.Y. · Anales de Investigacion en Arquitectura (2025) · DOI: 10.18861/ania.2025.15.2.4090

Resumen

This article presents an urban-territorial diagnosis of the informal settlement Villa Hermosa, located in Casma, Peru, understanding informality not merely as a physical deficit, but as a manifestation of structural exclusion. Using a mixed, non-experimental, cross-sectional, and descriptive-analytical approach, the study analyzed the sector’s physical evolution, housing conditions, and the socio-environmental risks faced by its residents. The research was based on 375 surveys, 20 systematic observation records, and a planimetric survey of the area. Results show that only 20% of the dwellings are built with durable materials, while the remaining 80% consist of precarious structures located in risk zones with limited access to basic services. Additionally, 50% of the lots show physical deterioration and waste accumulation, compromising sanitation and environmental quality. Some 64% of the population reports physical and mental health issues, and it is estimated that 55% are exposed to vector-borne diseases. In response, intervention strategies are proposed that integrate infrastructure, public space, and community empowerment. Despite the precarious conditions, the study identifies strong collective agency and resilience capacity. It concludes that Villa Hermosa should be recognized as a territory with transformative potential, whose future depends on context-sensitive, equitable, and situated planning. © Copyright 2025 María Lucía Boggiano Burga, Santiago Brixty Aranibar Huacho, Erick Yomar Matos Tarazona Creative Commons License.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Instituciones: Universidad Privada Antenor Orrego; Universidad César Vallejo