Planting Memories Gonzállez Granja, Ana Jiméneez Salmerón, Fernando Oliva Varier, V Candela
(relationship of the settlement growth and river) segovia
settlement
city grows towards
The medieval city experimented an intensive growth throughout the 20th century. At the beginning there was a huge dependance of the river, water was used for drinking, irrigation and energetic purposes. Delimited in the north by river Eresma being part always of the city, it seems to lie bellow it, but Segovia has expanded widely to the East and South, adjoining smaller settlements in all directions. The current growth pattern seems to leave apart the river growing to the South East direction.
medival city
1
2
zoom in
zoom in
3
1940
historical evolution
1971
1998
4
2012
1. watermill energy 2. watermill rute plan 3. medieval wall 4. aqueduct
A
B
C
B A C
A
river morphology plan
1 2
landscape character
Segovia´s landscape is full of contrasts. Green, yellow and brown tones lie through the whole region, varying according to the proximity of river Eresma, parallel to which the city has grown through history, and the altitude of the different areas.
(photo. character views)
a- rocky slope
b- riparian corridor
Rocky natural elements viewpoints
protected area
c- weeds
d- acuatic plants
e- wet land
f- dry land
How the house sat next to the river?
How the dam can be tranformed into a museum?
(sketch. character views)
2
1 a
e
b
f
d c
existing environment
(natural system as means of defining future urban growth) The aim of the masterplan is to integrate Segovia with river Eresma, while taking advantage of the protected area to create a green belt for the city. On one hand, this ring, combined with new lineal parks, will create a green network able to connect the whole city through bikeways, and also with nearby populations. On the other, it will allow for a system of ecocommunities to develop: allotments next to the river, biomass buffer areas and parks in the highest points
Important Places High Places Protected Areas City Growth
Green Spaces Green Bike Way Biomass Allotment Gardens eco-community growth
master plan
0
1050
105
1050
1050
N 10
50
S
50 10
00 10
1000
N
950
1000
1000
1050
2 950
1
balcony 1. river basin confine. view of river more hidden.
3
S
1000
balcony 2. open river basin.open view of valley . predominant symmetrical valley
00
high points 950
950
N
S
balcony 3. asymetrical valley. views of landscape. hidden river
balconies
900
950
1000
10
(synergic relationship of city to watershed and river)
Ripanian area
Allotments
Biomass buffer
Eco village
Park
detailed section for WATER QUALITY
new growth areas
Landscape and city are organised according to the proximity to the river and the altitude. Next to the ripanian areas, we propose allotments for food production. The next layer is a buffer zone made of biomass woods, while the higher points of the city are reserved for recreation parks. This will provoke a synergic relationship between landscape and civilization.
BUFFER ZONE+NATURAL RIPARIAN
BUFFER ZONE. MIDE COLLECTION POINT
BUFFER ZONE. COLLECTION POINT
evapotranspiration
WOODLAND WOODLAND
ECO-VILLAGE
gravel mixture
ALLOTMENT AREAS
RECHARGE ACUIFERS
RECHARGE ACUIFERS
PERCOLATION
water quality (biofilters)
The city counts with a water filtering collection system: the higher points in the topography are equipped with a layer of filtering gravel that cleans the thicker particles of water and collect it in the recharge acuifers. This water that runs down the hill is used for drinking and irrigation in the eco-villages. That way, water is distributed evenly and absorbed by constant bands of planting, that can be found in the transitional areas, riparian corridors and the aquatic medium, which reduce the “heat island effect”. Plants clean the water further, and expell it to the atmosphere adding humidity through evapotranspiration at a local scale.
Pivot element SEGOVIA
vertical farm
vertical farm
EL CERRO
NUEVA SEGOVIA
Biomass process
Processed Biomass
Combustion
Biomass
Biomass forest CO2 Photosynthesis
ecologic production (vertical farm+biomass)
Once again Segovia as reference in technology and nature can offer, integrating biomass woods as part of its landscape strategy. Moreover, a vertical farm is proposed for the area between Segovia and two new developments, Nueva Segovia and El Cerro. It will supply fresh food for the city, while becoming a landmark that acts as a pivoting point that connects the three neighbourhoods.
B
A
C
A.cemetery / B.watermill / C. dam gravel BUFFER ZONE. cupressus RIPARIAN WOODLAND. populus ORNAMENTAL AREAS. lavender - romero officinalis - thymus vulgaris MEMORIAL ZONE. prunus dulcis sorbus reducta - rosa canina castanea sativa
zoning vegetation plan
This intervention covers the area between the cemetery and the power station, at the end of a very narrow pass between both hills. Two areas will be treated as distinct yet continuous places: the flat piece of land that extends from the cemetry's back wall and the pathway that starts here and runs pareallel to the river, in the E-W axis, providing unexpeced views throughout the journey. All the vegetation species proposed in the masterplan are native of the Segovian landscape, as the aim is to enhance the natural and cutural qualities of the cemetery and the river in a non-invasive manner. Therefore, different plants are used for symbolic, cultural, functional, ornamental and atmospheric intentions.
BUFFER ZONE. cupressus RIPARIAN WOODLAND. populus ORNAMENTAL AREAS. lavender romero officinalis - thymus vulgaris MEMORIAL ZONE. prunus dulcis sorbus reducta - rosa canina castanea sativa
S
winter atmosphere and character
Winters in Segovia are hard because of its low temperatures, so the path demands to be surrounded by deciduous species that shed their leaves and let the sun warm up pedestrians. The snow allows beautiful and cold views along the memorial path.
BUFFER ZONE. cupressus RIPARIAN WOODLAND. populus ORNAMENTAL AREAS. lavender romero officinalis - thymus vulgaris MEMORIAL ZONE. prunus dulcis sorbus reducta - rosa canina castanea sativa
S
spring atmosphere and character
During spring the leafiness of the trees is dense enough to block the sunbeams creating a perfect atmosphere to have a walk, which combined with the colour palette offered by the various species planted and the olfative experience of the memorial creates a perfect path either to remember or just to enjoy.
BUFFER ZONE. cupressus RIPARIAN WOODLAND. populus ORNAMENTAL AREAS. lavender romero officinalis - thymus vulgaris MEMORIAL ZONE. prunus dulcis sorbus reducta - rosa canina castanea sativa
S
summer atmosphere and character
In summer shade is needed if you want to enjoy a cool, relaxing way through the memorial. This is achieved by dense high vegetation that directly blocks sunbeams all along the walkway.
BUFFER ZONE. cupressus RIPARIAN WOODLAND. populus ORNAMENTAL AREAS. lavender romero officinalis - thymus vulgaris MEMORIAL ZONE. prunus dulcis sorbus reducta - rosa canina castanea sativa
S
autumn atmosphere and character
The porosity of the vegetation decreases during the season of autumn, providing a way for the sunbeams to reach the walkway and warm up the pedestrians, while at the same time creates a beautiful collage of shades all along the memorial.
rosa canina
cupresus
pronus dulcis
populus alba
castanea sativa
memorial park
The cypress trees in the cementery, rigidly displayed in two lines, are a cultural reference to the world of the dead. Sober and upward-pointing, they filter through the cemetery walls (which have been thoroughly perforated) and enter the world of the living, mixing with the almond trees. White flowers in spring are symbolic about purity and new beginnings, and Segovia's cemetery is ready to provide a beautiful public space where the living and the memory of the dead coexist.
B
A 1
memorial park (section)
2
C
D
E
4
3 VEGETATION
ELEMENTS
A.cupresus B.pronus dulcis C.gravel D.rosa canina E.castanea sativa
1. cemetery 2.physical wall 3.memorial zone 4.memorial walkway
Three stepped platforms lead us from the cypress and almond wood to the chestnut wood, and then to the populus trees that continue into the memorial walkway.
The memory walkway has a dual function: on one hand, it symbolises the process of time in life and helps remember loved ones through the changing seasonal colour of the decidious populus tree and the flowering shrubs. On the other, by choosing native species the civilizians are contributing to regenerate these spaces through the act of mememorance , creating a buffer zones for existing and new development, as well as improving shade and use of the path. By keeping most of the planting to the upside of the path, the natural qualities of the site are left untouched.
l d lavender
pronus dulcis
pinus pinea
castanea sativa
memorial walkway
A B
A. pinus pinea - BUFFER element B. lavender - ORNAMENTAL element C. gravel D. rocky area - NATURAL element E. castanea sativa - SHADOW element F. thymus vulgaris - ORNAMENTAL element
memorial walkway (section)
3.5 m
C
D
E
F
A
B
E
ORNAMENTAL elements A. rosa canina B. lavender C. romero officinalis D. thymus vulgaris E. wood viewpoint
viewpoints
C The viewpoints that appear naturally in the site are enhanced by placing rocks for sitting, as well as marking the steps that one may take in order to discover a small wooden structure from which to enjoy the stunning views towards to river.
D
option 1
N
memorial walkway atmosphere
S
option opt op ptittitio p pt io on o n2
S
N
until 2012
from 2012
year 0
planting life
year 50
The memory walkway will grow through the years, along with the memories of Segovian people: each time a citizen passes away, the family will be given the opportunity to plant a populus tree in the side of the path, and a plaque remembering the deceased will be installed at its foot.
A series of light shafts will cross the river from side to side, from the cemetery to the power station.The light will be generated at the cemetery, and transmitted with a system of mirrors embedded in the rocky hills of the north side, and in the top of the existing electric poles in the south bank. It is a metaphorical display, representing the theme of vita flumen (“life flows as a river"), and at the same time it makes the river visible (or at least its route) at night, creating a surprising effect when observed from the memorial walkway.
night-light atmosphere in the memorial
evergreen / deciduous:
evergreen
height:
20 m
crown diameter:
60 cm
colour:
green
The Mediterranean cypress has been a symbol of mourning since classical antiquity (Greece and Rome). The reasons for this are probably its longevity (it lives up to 1,000 years) and its shape: tall and narrow, looking as if it were pointing to heaven, or as if it were guarding over the tombs of the departed.
cupresus (vegetation)
evergreen / deciduous:
deciduous
height:
30 m
crown diameter:
2-3 m
colour:
yellow / brown
Populus alba trees grow very fast, so they are often planted to provide shadow. They produce very special and soothing sounds, caused by their flattened leaf stems: this make the leaves to twist and flutter in slight breezes.
populus alba (vegetation)
evergreen / deciduous:
deciduous
height:
4-10 m
crown diameter:
5-6 m
colour:
green; white / pink flowers
Chinese consider it a symbol of enduring sadness and female beauty. It blooms very early, so its white flowers traditionally indicate the end of winter and the beginning of spring.
prunus dulcis (vegetation)
evergreen / deciduous:
deciduous
height:
30 m
crown diameter:
25 m
colour:
maroon / red-brown
Chestnuts provide an excellent soil-enriching understory in pine forests. Their fruits have a sweet taste and easy-to-remove inner skins, they can be roasted, deep-fried or dried in order to be eaten.
castanea sativa (vegetation)
evergreen / deciduous:
deciduous
height:
1-5 m
crown diameter:
2-3 m
colour:
pale pink / white flowers; red-orange fruits (shrub)
The plant is high in certain antioxidants. The fruit is noted for its high vitamin C level and is used to make syrup, tea and marmalade.
rosa canina (vegetation)
LAVANDULA
ROSEMARINUS OFFICIANIS
THYMUS VULGARIS
deciduous
evergreen
evergreen
30 m
1.5 m
40 cm
blue / violet / lilac flowers green above and white grey; pale pink flowers below; pink / purple / deep blue flowers (herb)
(herb)
(sub-shrub)
aromatic plants (vegetation)
These species are usually found together in nature. They are highly aromatic plants, which emanate a delicious perfume to the site. They also have culinary and medical uses, and their flowers present vivid colours of complementary tones.