Parc Baena

Topography : A potential to organize the park

The park of Baena is conceived as a network of pathways that weaves throughout the whole site. We conceived it as a fractal mat of woven strands. These paths can expand to a quasi limitless length proper to generate a, both, unique and complex ground for paseos. This is a supple system that has been bent to fit tightly to the topography of the site with minimum excavation. Topography is a language; it reveals both geologic information and the eroding history of the site that has shaped, for years, this landscape. Our project aims to keep the original topography with slight adjustment to develop a highly efficient and fruitful platform for exchange. If the strong slope has been here a major break to the extension of the city of Baena, we have considered it in our project as a major potential to develop the site with public activities. Our project extend the strong image of the Ladera Sur as the façade of the city of Baena by reusing in the landscape the white of the casas of Baena, with the dark green of olive trees and the ocres of the earth of Baena.

Circulations: Softcapes

Our project is based on a series of 3 different types of pathways that interacts throughout the site.

1 – Pedestrian path with slopes inferior to 5% allowing handicap access.

2 – Pathways with slopes superior to 5% and staircases, allowing efficient vertical movement.

3 – Path for vehicle and parking at the periphery of the site.

The very steep topography of the Ladera Sur has strongly influenced the geometry and location of the pathways which cross the site. Inspired by the existing street plan of the city of Baena, these  paths have been stretched on the length of the site to reduce slope, as a system of intersecting arcs. Created by successive addition of rings from a center point, the park of Ladera Sur unfolds by weaving roads form the higher to the lower part of the topography.

Programs : A rich combination of activities

The activities that we are proposing on the site are assembled along pathways on sequences related to sport, cultural, leisure activities for all type of users: Kiosks, hiking wall, running tracks, mountain bike pathways, water basin, children playgrounds, Sculpture Park and botanical garden with local “essences”. These activities are located on the site depending on their ability to function with specific slopes. We are suggesting also locating at the East side of the site a public elevator, which will be running along the slope of the site. We have located the school hotelière and the students residence in two buildings at the base of the site on the Senda Ancha. The buildings are separated by a plaza and integrated in the landscape by planted roof which extend the park terraces. The parking is located on the north side of the residential building and the access is on the Senda Ancha.

Plazas : Cooling platforms

The pathways are punctuated by 4 elongated public plazas created by local carving out and grading. Natural cooling of these plazas is realized by the use of shading devices and a network of water canals, which runs along the pathways of the park. The shades are made of a steel structure anchored in the rocks of the site. At the height of the pathway above, they are conceived to become the support for the growth of vegetation. The water canals are following the iso-lines of the topography to create a series of water fountains that punctuates the pathways of the Ladera Sur.

Planting : Intensive and extensive zone

Water is a precious resource to us and our project aims to optimize the need of the Park in water. Our strategy for the planting is to develop a system of intensive and extensive planting on the Ladera Sur with 2 types of water needs in order to optimize its need. Extensive zones are using prairie type of plants with low water consumption while near the main plazas intensive zones will need more water provision. Flowers, bushes trees and shrubs will be assembled according to their height and blooming period in order to create a system of open views to the fantastic landscape of olive trees that characterize the site across the Ladera Sur. They are located also in plan according to the a pattern similar to the one of the pathway.( lavande, algave, figue de barbarie, figuier, Olivier, pins, …)