The main objectives of the Terral Arquitectos studio when carrying out the new landscaping restoration project were to create viewing points for observing the city, restore the existing hillside, and pave the area of the project to improve accessibility and the connection between the different streets.
The project seeks to minimise the footprint of the project by reducing earthworks, recovering rainwater for recirculation, or using traditional local construction systems.
An irrigation system is implemented that recovers rainwater in a tank located under one of the viewing points to water the hillside garden in drier periods. The entire new urbanised area is paved using a local material, made by hand, baked in Moorish ovens and heated with natural elements such as almond shells.
Garden-Viewpoint by Terral Arquitectos. Photograph by Fernando Gómez Mateos.
Project description by Terral Arquitectos
The new project commissioned by the Vélez-Málaga City Council is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund. The aim of the project was to recover a degraded green area, located in the area around the Alcazaba-Fortress, which thanks to its orographic characteristics is a perfect place to observe the city and its relationship with the surrounding territory.
The project is implemented in the highest part of the city, in the heart of the La Villa neighbourhood, included in the scope of the BIC Historic Centre of Vélez-Málaga, within the execution unit UE-Pepri 1 "La Fortaleza", and with Type B archaeological protection. It is an area with important historical-artistic significance, but also an area with social problems and depopulation that had to be revitalised.
One of the aims of the project, however small it may be, was to rethink how to use the resources we have to reduce the impacts of the construction process. With this idea of minimising the footprint of the project, decisions are made in the design of the project: reduce earthworks to what is essential, recover rainwater for recirculation in the irrigation system, shorten distances in the transport of materials and products and use construction systems of local tradition.
The objectives of the project are:
Improvement of the connection between Calle Palafrenero and Calle Fortaleza, with the execution of a staircase between both, in a safe manner and integrated into the environment. (Escalerilla del Palafrenero).
New pavement on Calle Fortaleza, from the staircase described above to the end of the plot, delimiting the area of action and giving access to the proposed square as an anteroom to the existing green area on the hillside.
Paving of the flat part of the plot, as a continuation of the pavement described above, creating a square that serves as access to the proposed viewing points, with areas for rest. (Plaza de la Fortaleza).
Creation of viewing points for observing the city and its relationship with the Territory, as well as the most emblematic architectural heritage.
Landscape restoration of the existing hillside, with respect for native species and installation of an irrigation system.
Programmed drip irrigation system, with recovery of water from rainwater accumulated in a tank built under one of the viewing points.
The restoration of the green area and the creation of the viewing points entails the recirculation of the rainwater that currently flows down the street that borders the site, and that runs off when there is rainfall. The project redirects this rainwater to a tank located under one of the viewing points to water the garden on the hillside in drier periods.
For the paving of the entire new urbanized area, a material that is manufactured in the city itself is used: baked clay from the Vélez-Málaga tile factories. It is a material made by hand and baked in Moorish ovens, heated with biomass (almond shells or avocado wood from local plantations). A very artisanal local industry that has been on the verge of disappearing.
