Unfortunately, in most countries in Latin America, city planning continues to follow theories responsible for current environmental problems in the world. Ecuador and its capital city, Quito, are no exception. International urban and landscape design trends, such as regenerative techniques, sustainability, and compaction of cities, and contemporary concerns, which include health, environmental issues, and quality of life, are not considered.This thesis researches Quito's lack of organized, safe, and quality open spaces. It discovers that the absence of these important features and the city's urban growth have caused loss and imbalance of several essential values that contribute to quality of life. It provides design principles applicable to high-density residential projects in order to create, in Quito's future development, a healthy environment to regain balance of thesevalues. Through the analysis of historic and contemporary case studies, literature research, and personal interviews, it seeks for an opportunity of intervention.