Traffic Education Open Classroom in Santander
SANTANDER, CANTABRIA
SANTANDER´S BAY
Location: SANTANDER-CANTABRIA (SPAIN) Designer(s): MIRIAM GARCÍA GARCÍA (LAND LAB, LABORATORIO DE PAISAJES) Y EDUARDO DELGADO ORUSCO (RESET ARQUITECTURA) Commissioned by: FUNDACIÓN CENTRO TECNOLÓGICO EN LOGÍSTICA INTEGRAL DE CANTABRIA (CTL) Area: 1.400m2 Period of design: JULY-DECEMBER 2010 Implementation period: JANUARY-JUNE 2011 Cost: € 364.143 Contact person: MIRIAM GARCÍA GARCÍA Address: CALLE JOSÉ ORTEGA Y GASSET 29. 5ª PLANTA Telephone/fax: (+34) 91 578 35 98 E-mail: miriamgarcia@landlab.es
PROPOSAL
Within the city of Santander there is a strategic transport node. This node is located between the railway station of the city, by the seaport, and a bus station whose bus bays are located underground. Both are linked to the General Traffic Management of the Cantabria Government in charge of this assignment. Our square is in fact a parasite project as it colonizes a pre-existing space in the city consisting of the exploitation of the bus station’s covering which is slightly elevated over the adjacent streets. Due to the relationship between the environment and transport it was decided to explore its possibilities as a children’s play area linked to the traffic world. A new noticeably flat topography was planned to contain a circuit for traffic education (as an open classroom, true protagonist of the intervention) as well as a series of other small games for all ages. The presence of the elderly, whether they be family of the younger ones or not, was also foreseen. This would enhance the character of the square as a space for social cohesion. The materials and an intense chromatic spectrum were formally studied as a means to easily recognize the playful character of the project. The surface of the square was designed with wet-pour rubber flooring that suits the new artificial topography. Given the character of urban emptiness surrounded by apartment buildings, the nocturnal ambience was designed by illuminating the traffic signs conforming a constellation of coloured elements suspended a metre and a half over the ground. Finally, the intervention is confined in a metallic skin, a chain link wire fence, over which the recycled traffic signs are located and, given their height, grants a particular identity to the area within the city.
The program of the project is an update of the historical uses and activities of this urban emptiness, childish games, sportive celebrations, fairs, circus, etc.
SMALL GAMES FOR ALL AGES
CIRCUIT FOR TRAFFIC EDUCATION OPEN CLASSROOM
SQUARE
STREET
BUS STATION
ACTIVITIES
LEARNING
LISTENING
LOOKING
ATTENDING
STOPPING
RESTING
RELAXING
PRACTISING
PLAYING
GENERAL MANAGEMENT
CHILDISH GAMES
HEALTHY CIRCUIT
LOCATION