Urban Regeneration Of Balboaavenue In Panama City

Using a survey of tourist and local residents this study investigates the success of Balboa Avenue as a proposed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Conservation area.The survey revealed that tourist were attracted by the facades of old colonial buildings that have been carefully restored.In contrast Panamanians attach a great deal more to new architectural structures that promotes activities and lifestyles within the area,and which have been decreases because of conservation.Planning authorities have concentrated mainly on the issue of economic viability and favor commercial activities that increase the economic flow.As such,Panamanians feel that conservation "museumizes" or makes "elitist" to encourage tourism,failed to preserve real heritage and respond to the real needs of the community.Amount the main Central American cities,which became the capitals of the Central American republics after the independence of 1821,which were located mostly in the interior zones of the colonized territories.Panama as an exception,built his capital(Panama City)from the beginning to the seashore as a key point of trade towards South America,making this an aspect of uniqueness.The work focused on a field research with a qualitative approach,using direct observation tools,field notes and documentary review to analyze the site.When the grid is the subject of massive regeneration,regardless of traditional characteristics,damages to the urban structure make the process of conservation rather difficult;whereas a moderate transformation sympathetic to the original organization of the city gives great potential for the core to survive and to be conserved appropriately.From this,the paper develops a new view towards urban conservation,more concerned about preserving the essence of the old cities,or the 'spatial spirit' of the place,than with a fruitless effort to rescue the individual buildings or spaces regardless of the urban context within which they can function and survive.