Compaction and diffusion in a mountain tourist destination? San Carlos de Bariloche in the 2000s

Abstract In the framework of the discussions relating to spatial forms assumed by cities in neoliberalism, Abramo affirms that Latin American cities have a distinctive urban growth model that is compact and diffuse at the same time, or com-fuso. Using this model as a start, this article refers to the case of San Carlos de Bariloche, a mountain tourist city located in the Argentinean northpatagonia, which historically grew extensively and diffusely. It is postulated that starting in the 2000s, along with the revival and tourism boom, processes of intensification of land use began to consolidate, which also tended to densify it. To verify this assertion is assessed particularly what happened in the neighborhood Belgrano, a residential area near the downtown center. The methodological approach includes the use of quantitative and qualitative data: census sources, building permits and real estate offers, but also interviews, aerial photographs and public documents. It is concluded that the densification processes not only attenuate the diffuse growth model of the city, but also raise questions about other urban problems that, together, could help to define the way in which the tourist cities grow and some of the its socio-spatial manifestations.