Rotterdam-based office for urban design and landscape architecture West 8, in collaboration with Sener & Gestec, have designed this entry for the Valencia Central Park Competition. Their proposal achieved a place on the competition shortlist. The design presented here is a concept for Parque Central inspired by the Valencian tradition of solid narrative and poetry.

The park is reflection of the local identity of Valencia and is designed for current and future generations with its history and authentic traditions as a guide. The basic composition of the elements are closely linked to the description of Valencia that Spanish poet Antonio Gala gives in his poem, “Piropo a Valencia.”

The history of gardens and patios of Valencia guide the park’s overall composition. The park consists of sequences of gardens where water, trees and flowers ornament and enliven the park. The park exudes an atmosphere of fertility and pleasure to the city. It is designed to be a place of contemplation and reflection, enjoyment and the experience of intimate moments with nature. In addition, it is civic space for the activity of social life: a place for families to enjoy sports, shows and culture.

The integration of the park in the urban context is of critical importance. The park’s permeability towards adjacent neighbourhoods emphasizes the intimate city-park relationship. The connection to the new southern entrance-avenue to the city, linking the historical centre, the river and the Valencian orchards is an important visual axis that penetrates into the park through ‘the meadow of oranges.

’This new boulevard reinserts to the heart of Valencia the landscape that has been slowly driven away by urban developments. The railway reserve, currently an iron barrier, will become a green aromatic carpet that culminates in a large park; it provides a new welcoming image for the city.

Architects.- West 8 with Sener & Gestec
Location.-Valencia, Spain
Name.- Central Park Valencia
Client.- Consorcio Valencia Parque Central
Design.- 2010
Size.- 23 Ha.

More information, published in.- METALOCUS-018 | P02 | p. 54
"Arboretum Trompenburg. Erasmian Garden." Rotterdam. | West8

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West 8 is an award-winning international office for urban design and landscape architecture founded in 1987. Over the last 31 years West 8 has established itself as a leading practice with an international team of 70 architects, urban designers, landscape architects and industrial engineers. West 8 developed projects all over the world in places such as Copenhagen, London, Moscow, New York, Madrid, Toronto and Amsterdam.

The office gained international recognition with projects such as Schouwburgplein in Rotterdam (NL), Borneo-Sporenburg in Amsterdam (NL), Jubilee Gardens in London (UK), Expo \'02 in Yverdon-les-Bains (CH) and Miami Beach SoundScape Park (US). Many of the projects are the result of groundbreaking entries in important international competitions. Recently won competitions include Toronto Waterfront in Toronto (CA), Governors Island in New York (USA) and Yongsan Park in Seoul (KR).

Amongst the numerous awards received by West 8 are the Honor Award of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), Lifetime Achievement Award for Architecture 2011, Mondriaan Fund (formerly BKVB),  the International Urban Landscape Gold Award (IULA), the Prix de Rome, the Dutch Maaskant Award, the Bijhouwer Award, the Rosa Barba First European Landscape Prize, the Green Pin and the Veronica Rudge Green Prize for Urban Design.

Adriaan Geuze is one of the founders of West 8 urban design & landscape architecture b.v., a leading urban design practice in Europe. Geuze attended the Agricultural University of Wageningen where he received a Masters degree in Landscape Architecture. After winning the prestigious Prix-de-Rome award in 1990, Geuze, with his office West 8 founded in 1987, established an enormous reputation on an international level with his unique approach to planning and design of the public environment. By founding the SLA Foundation (Surrealistic Landscape Architecture) in 1992, Geuze increased public awareness of his profession.
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Published on: February 11, 2011
Cite: "VALENCIA PARQUE CENTRAL PROPOSAL" METALOCUS. Accessed
<http://www.metalocus.es/en/news/valencia-parque-central-proposal> ISSN 1139-6415
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