SARMIENTO
PROJECT
Concurso de Proyectos "Richard H. Driehaus"
IN COLLABORATION WITH
LOCATION
Santa Cruz de La Palma
La Palma, ES
CATEGORY
#competition #cadÁveres
YEAR
2020
The reinstatement of the memory of the place, as well as the social and uniqueness of the site, constitute the cornerstone of this intervention. The promenade acts both as a catalyst for architecture and as a meeting and connection space for a historically divided city. The place proposes the intervention, the routes formalize it and the solar orientation defines it.
Las Nieves Ravine’s stimulating presence offers the opportunity to incorpórate the footprints of the landscape into the proposal, reinforcing the local identity. So, we decided to adopt the channel by integrating it as a configuring element of the project: the architecture adapts and traces a foreshortening that saves the mouth by incorporating it as part of its access patio. Thereby, the new place arises from what was always there. In addition, la Bajada de la Virgen de las Nieves as an event of singular relevance that is repeated every five years, requires a more comfortable and versatile space.
The project gathers the flows of the city and delivers them naturally to the northern zone, strolling around the ravine's green tongue, which has been traditionally segregated. The tours have a wide range of possibilities. Some of them revolve around the main building, either going down a slight incline through the access plaza to the Museum, going up the Library by gentle ramps or crossing it reaching the coast. Others extend to San Fernando Square and turn along the rehabilitated path going up towards the La Encarnación’s panoramic viewpoint and La Virgen’s Castle. Likewise, it could continue to the Baluarte and the new plaza in front of the sea, which will host the restored backs of the traditional buildings and also the tapa building (a narrow construction, which is attached to the party wall showing a wooden lattice façade inspired by nearby agricultural terraces).
We build with what is available, using materials and close strategies. Galleries and terraces sifted by natural wood lattices, open to the south, the city and the landscape. To the north and ocean, a basalt-stained concrete wall has been shuttered with wood assemblies. Its portholes, which overlook the sea, allude to the nearby buildings. On its roof, a gazebo garden completes the public space. Trying to achieve a contemporary image materialized with traditional techniques.
