Memory, Loss, and the Future of Managua’s Historic Center examines the historical, spatial, and symbolic processes that have shaped the urban heart of Nicaragua’s capital, presenting the historic center of Managua not only as a locus of architectural remnants but as a fragmented yet potent reservoir of collective memory and identity. The research begins by delineating the material and immaterial layers of the city—architecture, urban landscape, and everyday practices—whose coexistence underlines the tension between the physical degradation of heritage and the resilience of communal narratives. Framed within a context of natural disasters, political instability, and urban neglect, the study highlights the paradox of a capital that evolved away from its historic center, generating a void in both spatial continuity and cultural belonging. Through a meticulous heritage valuation and critical examination of current and past management strategies, the investigation aims to recover the center as a meaningful public space, integrating conservation with urban regeneration and social inclusion. Recognizing the symbolic weight of destruction, the thesis explores how these ruptures can inform a new paradigm of resilient and sustainable development, proposing strategic models that reconcile memory with modernization. Ultimately, this work positions Managua’s historic core as a potential catalyst for broader urban transformation, where heritage is not a static relic but a living system adaptable to contemporary challenges and capable of inspiring civic engagement, cultural continuity, and visionary planning for future generations.
Suárez Bonilla, B. (2025). Patrimonio cultural urbano del centro histórico de Managua: memoria, conservación y desarrollo; entre la adversidad y la pérdida. Universidad de Valladolid.
