Desmaterialización del límite: Una estrategia espacial para fomentar la permanencia y la circulación a partir de variaciones tipológicas del patio

Abstract

This research identifies ways in which the dematerialization of the boundary in architectural courtyards restructures the relationship between interior and exterior spaces, and how it affects user dwell time and circulation. The study employs typological analysis (cloister, interleaved, and deformed types), comparative mapping of references, and empirical analysis—using an indicator matrix and trace mapping—grounded in a theoretical framework concerning liminality, courtyards, and blurred boundaries. Overall, the results demonstrate that as edge porosity and openness increase (when calibrated according to typology and program), the variety of routes expands and nodes for lingering are fostered; however, this effect is contingent, as each strategy yields different outcomes depending on the courtyard typology and the nature of its use. These correlations lead to concrete design guidelines (such as void frequency and solid-to-void ratios) that serve as an operational matrix highlighting key boundary elements to consider. The study concludes that, given typological and technical coherence, the dematerialization of the edge transforms the courtyard into an active zone of depth that broadens the scope for spatial appropriation and movement.