In the historic centre of Pamplona, where public space is scarce, Iraburu Estudio's proposal seeks to become the main meeting point for neighbours and visitors, the sum of small interventions that work together for and by the community.
Enhancing the perimeter usign arcaded structures, where wood takes centre stage over the rest of the materials. Between the pillars is where spaces with different limits emerge that gather the different activities: reading, painting, listening, playing and more; all in the same place.
Rendering. Finalist proposal for the Plaza de Santa Ana by Iraburu Estudio.
Project description by Iraburu Estudio
Contexts
The Plaza de Santa Ana, as we know it today, is a recent space in the history of the city. Its origin, the result of the union of several courtyards separated by transversal constructions, gives it a domestic, almost "homely" character, which is reflected both in its physical configuration and in its essence.
Despite its youth, it is an urban space with great potential that must be valued. It is essential that, in its transformation, the unique character that defines it, its Genius Loci, be preserved and enhanced, giving it the importance it deserves due to its location and dimensions. This prominence is especially necessary for the inhabitants of the old town of Pamplona, who lack large spaces for recreation.
However, the square has not yet reached its potential, since the rear facades of many of the surrounding houses turn their backs on it, without opening direct doors to it and with several buildings in poor condition, awaiting rehabilitation. This situation generates an ambiguous perception, which overshadows other positive aspects.
Narratives
The proposal highlights the original traces of the place. The versatility of uses and activities that the square houses becomes the driving force of the project, conceived as a blank canvas that fosters the life of the neighborhood. The intervention is conceived as a sum of actions of a more or less independent nature that, taken together, point towards a global intervention.
One of the main premises of the proposal is to propose a morphology of a multipurpose square at the service of the city, making the square participate in the reactivation of the city and its commitment to public space, new technologies and sustainability.
The generation of an enclosure
The proposal defines the scope of the square through an enclosure with clear geometry that establishes a serene dialogue with the urban context, fragmented and in constant transformation. This gesture orders and frames the public space, providing multipurposeness and enhancing its proportions and dimensions.
The project is based on a simple gesture: a covered perimeter that results from the union and natural extension of the existing buildings and accesses in the Plaza de Santa Ana. This enclosure establishes a double view: towards the central space, a void conceived as a blank canvas that dynamizes citizen activities, and towards a series of more limited and specific spaces. The structure protects and connects both areas, giving identity and unity to the whole.
