Reinventando el pasado: falsos históricos en la arquitectura de Guayaquil a inicios del siglo XXI. (2002 - 2022).

Abstract

This research analyzes the phenomenon of historical falsehood in Guayaquil's architecture between 2002 and 2022, within the context of rapid urban modernization. The study focuses on recent constructions that imitate the architecture of past eras but lack historical, technical, or documentary support to explain their connection to the past. Using a case study and a qualitative approach, the research identifies the symbolic and commercial motivations, as well as the aesthetic attributes, of these practices. The findings show that historical falsehood, driven by both the public and private sectors, has changed the city's urban environment based on a consensual aesthetic and a uniform visual narrative, prioritizing scenography over authenticity. Although this simulation of history attracts tourists and is socially accepted, it compromises the formal coherence of urban space. The research offers a critical interpretation of historical falsehood as a representational tactic that conceals the city's historical complexity and suggests reconsidering architectural intervention from a more truthful, contextual, and modern perspective.