Between Perception and Reality: Socio-spatial Factors Affecting Youth Wellbeing in Public Space in Cuenca and Ambato

Viviana A. Cordero-Vinueza; Juan Martin Pesantez; Amelia Tapia; Pedro Coello; Fabián Bermeo

doi:10.32891/jps.v10i1.1866

Cover image: Skateboard Park under the bridge located beside the Huashan 1914 Creative Park in Taipei, Taiwan. Picture by Poh Soo Donald Soh

PDF Appendix 1 Appendix 2 Appendix 3 Appendix 4 Appendix 5 Appendix 6

Published: Oct 11, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32891/jps.v10i1.1866

Keywords:

Youth well-being Public space Safety Placemaking Mental health

Viviana A. Cordero-Vinueza

University of Groningen

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6735-3845

Juan Martin Pesantez

Huasipichanga

Amelia Tapia

Huasipichanga

Pedro Coello

Huasipichanga

Fabián Bermeo

Huasipichanga

Abstract

Youth wellbeing and development are strongly influenced by the physical environment and its conditions; thus, it is essential to examine the relationship between young people and public space. This case study analyses youth wellbeing in Cuenca and Ambato through perception surveys and a comparison with official dashboard data on urban wellbeing. The findings reveal discrepancies between young people's perceptions of public space and official data. These differences weaken their connection to the city and reduce public space usage, ultimately affecting their wellbeing. The study also presents the experience of these cities using placemaking as a tool to bridge this gap and improve youth engagement with urban spaces.

How to Cite

Cordero-Vinueza, V. A., Pesantez, J. M., Tapia, A., Coello, P. and Bermeo, F. (2025) “Between Perception and Reality: Socio-spatial Factors Affecting Youth Wellbeing in Public Space in Cuenca and Ambato”, The Journal of Public Space, 10(1), pp. 137–150. doi: 10.32891/jps.v10i1.1866.

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 1 (2025): Safe and Sound Cities

Section

Non Academic / Case study

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Author Biographies

Viviana A. Cordero-Vinueza, University of Groningen

Viviana Cordero-Vinueza is an Ecuadorian lawyer and urban planning specialist, driven by social and environmental justice. She is a co-founder of Huasipichanga, an interdisciplinary consultancy for urban transformations that aims at positively impacting communities by co-creating more inclusive, playful, and livable cities.
She is a Ph.D. candidate in Spatial Science at the University of Groningen and a lecturer at the Catholic University of Ecuador and at the Business School Rotterdam. Her research focuses on how child-friendly cities are included in the local governance agendas, and her lectures are focused on urban development and social entrepreneurship.
Viviana is a leader and member of global networks such as PlacemakingX, the Real Play City Challenge, The City at Eye Level for Kids, Ashoka, ChangemakerXchange, Trust in Play: European School of Urban Game Design, and environmental activism collectives in Latin America. She has experience in placemaking, public policy, urban pedagogy, and project management, and has participated as a public speaker in conferences worldwide, also as a TedX speaker.

Juan Martin Pesantez, Huasipichanga

Juan Martín Pesántez is an architect with a master's degree in Urban Design, specializing in the creation of public spaces focused on children, play, and citizen participation. His work focuses on placemaking processes that integrate the community through playful and collaborative methodologies, promoting more inclusive, safe, and stimulating cities for children and young people.
With experience in applied research and participatory urban design, he has developed projects that combine tools from architecture, tactical urbanism, urban pedagogy, and behavioral change.
He has collaborated with local governments, social organizations, and multidisciplinary teams in Latin America, developing urban intervention strategies with a focus on youth well-being and spatial justice.

Amelia Tapia, Huasipichanga

Amelia Tapia is an architect, graduated from the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, and she studied a Master's degree in Construction Technologies at the Technical University of Delft, in the Netherlands.
She is the national project coordinator for Huasipichanga, an urban consulting firm based in Cuenca and the Netherlands. For the past three years, she has specialized in working with citizens, local governments, academia, and the private sector to create child- and youth-friendly cities. She is also the co-founder of IWI Estudio, an architecture studio based in Quito, Ecuador.
By combining her experience in design, construction, urban planning, and community work, she strives to improve the urban environments we all inhabit.

Pedro Coello, Huasipichanga

Pedro Coello remains at the forefront of youth debates that seek the inclusion and integration of young people in political, social and economic scenarios in search of making cities more participatory and fair for all who live there. He has a degree in Sociology from the University of Cuenca and served as a representative to the academic council of the same, he is currently studying Political Science and Governance at the Catholic University of Cuenca.
He works in Huasipichanga and since April 2023 he has been the Director of Youth Development in which he focuses on the integration of young people to the development of sustainable, friendly and integral cities accompanied by participatory methodologies and co-creation.

Fabián Bermeo, Huasipichanga

Fabián Bermeo is an occupational psychologist with extensive experience in facilitating learning, innovation and entrepreneurship processes in Latin America. He is the founder and CEO of Integrar Cía. Ltda., an Ecuadorian organisation that has been promoting capacity-building projects for young people and adults since 2015, using creative and experiential learning methodologies. He has led initiatives in Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Argentina and Mexico, collaborating with local governments, international organisations and diverse communities.
Fabián has been the organiser of TEDxCuenca and TEDxJoven@Cuenca, promoting transformative ideas in his city. In recent years, he has developed innovative programmes such as S²Cities Cuenca, focused on urban youth well-being, and training experiences for the public and private sectors, including programmes on interpersonal skills, mental health, conflict resolution and placemaking.
His approach combines systemic thinking with a strong focus on participatory design and community empowerment. He firmly believes in the power of human relationships as a driver of sustainable change.

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