Vía terciaria y Mirador
PROJECT
Tertiary path and viewpoint
IN COLLABORATION WITH
SURVEYOR
José Floreal Martínez Bermúdez
DEVELOPER
ECOCIVIL ELECTROMUR
LOCATION
Palmetum Botanical Garden
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Tenerife, ES
CATEGORY
#landscape
YEAR
2025
STATUS
Built
PHOTOGRAPHY
Flavio Dorta
In the improvement campaign of the Palmetum Botanical Garden in Santa Cruz de Tenerife—one of the largest collections of tropical island palms in the world—we were commissioned to design a new tertiary pathway that would offer visitors greater flexibility of use, enrich the network of routes, and incorporate a lookout point overlooking the sweeping panorama of Santa Cruz’s coastline and the Anaga mountain range.
We proposed a zigzagging promenade embedded in the hillside: a precise incision in the terrain defined by sheets of Corten steel anchored into the ground, resolving the changes in level through a simple and efficient operation. The different stretches, blending with the textures and colours of the natural soil, are finished with a natural compacted‐earth surface. At each turn in the ascent, small landings provide moments of pause that double as viewpoints and rest areas—concrete “carpets” that fold to form benches, encouraging a slow, contemplative walk attuned to the rhythm of the surrounding vegetation. A handrail made of mulberry wood completes the route, easing the climb while adding a warm tactile element.
Elsewhere, the pathway maintains its compacted natural earth finish, fitting quietly into its surroundings with the inclusion—depending on the section—of basalt stone embankments or gravel drainage channels. The route adapts to the mountain’s natural contours, punctuated by drainage bands that both simplify maintenance and articulate the geometry of the walk among the palms.
