MAGDALENA’S PROJECT
THE LIZARD
p la y ing d re a m s
THE LIZARD
THE LEGEND Historical events or popular legends become the soul of cities and populations, being part of the tradition and providing personality to the environment. These elements are key part of the collective memory of a city, providing spaces with a special dimension. Particularly, the influence of the Magdalena’s Lizard legend is so high that the lizard has come to become in one of the symbols of the city, frequently present in its architecture and on its streets. The legend states that this lizard attacked those who went to get water. That being so, the king decided to send a prisoner which, in exchange for his freedom, a sheep’s skin, powder, bread and a horse, would face the animal. With all this, the prisoner inserted the powder inside the sheep, which was later eaten by the animal, exploiting few minutes after that. The prisoner could then reach his so desired freedom.
Magdalena’s neighborhood
The 2nd July of 2009, the Legend of the Lizard was chosen as one of the 10 Treasures of the Cultural Intangible Heritage of Spain, after a popular vote that received the support of more than 8.000 votes. For that reason, the authorities of Jaén declared the 2nd July as the “Official day of The Lizard of Magdalena”.
Drawing of the attack
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INSPIRATION Sample of a lizard-themed project
www.abc.net.au/news/2013-04-25/highbrook-park-lizardjpg/4651100
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Lizard-themed project with knitted skin by Olek.
www.coolpicturegallery.net/2012/07/crocheted-aligator-playground-by-olek.html
THE LIZARD
DESIGN The lizard’s body constitutes a structure of about 22 meters long and 3.6 meters high. The element consists on a skeleton of steel rounded tube of 114 mm diameter which progressively shapes the animal. Its ribs are separated by 2 meters, creating opening spaces between them. Kids will then be able to go in and out of the lizard’s bowels.
Different points of view of the structure and inner playability.
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PLAY VALUE The element is structured with the skeleton and skin. The skin breaks right where the legend states the explosion occurred, which is now the main entrance to the playground for children. The structure is provided with a second access located in the tail. Different net systems with a chaotic geometry set the exploited part of the lizard, where several membranes are shown, representing its shuttered guts.
Through several net platforms children can reach to the different tube slides which shape animal’s legs and also its trachea, which access the head, from where children can see the outside through the animal’s teeth. Its central heart consists on a hanging icosahedron which provides the structure with a special nest where to stay.
Heart–nest
Legs–slides
Tail access Trachea
Tail tunnels
Membranes
Lateral access nets Accessible head Claws
Inner strcuture
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Lizard made of Stone, placed in La Magdalena
Model developed for the morphological study of the animal’s features.
Head’s prototype.
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Its head is faceted by plates simulating the lizard’s skin and geometrize its natural features.
Its tale elevates with the aim of avoiding the top part to be accessible to users
Head’s detail
Tail’s detail
General view
General view
View from the inner part to the head
View from the inner part to the tail
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