Square of Culture by OOIIO Architecture

The Square of Culture is a proposal of urban intervention which revitalise the public space of Talavera de la Reina generating a multiple and flexible scenic space. The Square of Culture is a proposal of urban intervention which has as main objective to revitalise culturally the public space of Talavera de la Reina.
We make a multiple and flexible scenic space which surrounds and delimits El Salvador square. A place you can enjoy watching a film in the summer cinema, listening to music in the open air, going to photography exhibitions, dancing in concerts and “verbenas”…
This project comes from a rigorous analyze of the public urban space in Talavera, taking into account the traffic flows, sunlight, topography and pre-existing use. Let’s reactivate the public space!
TRAFFIC FLOWS AND GRADIENTS
The project takes advantage of the square natural gradient to generate several open air stages and grandstands. The square pavement reaches from pedestrian zone to the road, to achieve a visually larger square and make the passer-by the real user of the public space.
SUNLIGHT AND FUNCTIONALITY
The square shaping comes from the sunlight and shadows study, with a functional objective. The children games zone with morning winter sunlight, the benches, grandstands and vegetation protected from summer sunlight.
SIGHTS AND VEGETATION
The frame-stage is placed in the most visible point of the square becoming an emblematic element of the Culture Square.
The existing vegetation is reinforced by a green slope which surrounds the main stage.
USE AND CULTURAL REACTIVATION
Current uses (church, school and commercial) are emphasised, as long as we preserve an specific area for children to play and some terraces and we create a scenic space with double stage for cultural entertainment events.
This urban auditorium will make the cultural offering of Talavera more powerful. Courtesy by OOIIO Architecture.
Location: Talavera de la Reina, Spain
Architect: OOIIO Architecture
Project Team: Joaquín Millán Villamuelas, Gabriela Sanz, Miguel Cárdenas, Magdalena Polvorinos
Structures: CPE Consultora s.l.
Area: 1.065 m2
Completion time: 2015
Client: Council of Talavera de la Reina
Award: First Prize Competition
Status: Today under Tender Phase
Images: Courtesy by OOIIO Architecture