Rehabilitation of Plaza de San Miguel in Talavera de la Reina by OOIIO

Rehabilitation of Plaza de San Miguel in Talavera de la Reina
Rehabilitation of Plaza de San Miguel in Talavera de la Reina
Photo © Eugenio H. Vegue y Francisco Sepúlveda

OOIIO wins the First Prize in the competition organized by the city of Talavera de la Reina into the “10 + 4 URBAN” program, with the aim of the rehabilitation of several city public spaces. OOIIO won two contests, Plaza del Salvador and San Miguel Square, thanks to proposals where ceramic is the protagonist, the most important craft product in Talavera.

Rehabilitation of Plaza de San Miguel in Talavera de la Reina
Photo © Eugenio H. Vegue y Francisco Sepúlveda

The process has served to revitalize local craft industry, prevent the closure of small family businesses that have collaborated with us, showing new formats to use ceramics, not only the traditional kitchen objects pottery. This centuries-old tradition, that is today on a difficult time, now can be used aslo for the rehabilitation of public space. In both competitions OOIIO followed the idea of using this traditional ceramic material, always used in small objects, now on a much larger scale, the urban space, getting a very deep interaction with the neighbours and the city soul thanks to the use of their beloved material.

Rehabilitation of Plaza de San Miguel in Talavera de la Reina
Photo © Eugenio H. Vegue y Francisco Sepúlveda

San Miguel Square
The main intention of this urban intervention is to revitalize a degraded public space. We created a simple and open to all residents urban corner, destined to become a new landmark for the city, thanks to the contemporary and fresh use of the traditional and well-known Talavera´s pottery tiles. A symbolic material deeply rooted in local culture, important for its inhabitants. This proposal stems from a rigorous analysis of public space needs in Talavera, from circulations studies, the sunlight, topography, existing applications …

Rehabilitation of Plaza de San Miguel in Talavera de la Reina
Photo © Eugenio H. Vegue y Francisco Sepúlveda

Before our intervention, the square was a residual urban space, not accessible for elderly or disabled people and used as informal parking. With a few simple interventions we can turn this space into one of the most attractive squares in the city. We left the horizontal plane as accessible and comfortable possible for pedestrians reducing traffic to a defined track, protecting the main open space for pedestrians with concrete benches, specifically designed and located to contemplate the great wall of Talavera´s pottery that will completely change the look of the square forever, becoming one of the most revered places in the city.

Rehabilitation of Plaza de San Miguel in Talavera de la Reina
Photo © Eugenio H. Vegue y Francisco Sepúlveda

This strong and visual intervention in the vertical plane will contribute to recover and enhance the medieval tower of the ancient wall, which now is lost in between buildings competing in height with it. It will be now highlighted together with the ceramic mural, something special worthy to be seen for visitors and city inhabitants.

Rehabilitation of Plaza de San Miguel in Talavera de la Reina
Photo © Eugenio H. Vegue y Francisco Sepúlveda

El Salvador Square
The Square of Culture is a proposal of urban intervention which has as main objective to revitalize 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.

Rehabilitation of Plaza de San Miguel in Talavera de la Reina
Photo © Eugenio H. Vegue y Francisco Sepúlveda

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.

Rehabilitation of Plaza de San Miguel in Talavera de la Reina
Photo © Eugenio H. Vegue y Francisco Sepúlveda

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.

Rehabilitation of Plaza de San Miguel in Talavera de la Reina
Photo © Eugenio H. Vegue y Francisco Sepúlveda

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.

Rehabilitation of Plaza de San Miguel in Talavera de la Reina
Photo © Eugenio H. Vegue y Francisco Sepúlveda

Use and Cultural Reactivation
Current uses (church, school and commercial) are emphasized, as long as we preserve an specifi c 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 off ering of Talavera more powerful. Both OOIIO squares have recently opened in September 2015 with a great success between the neighbors, as they show with modernity and proud Talavera´s DNA, its symbol: ceramics. Source by OOIIO.

Rehabilitation of Plaza de San Miguel in Talavera de la Reina
Photo © Eugenio H. Vegue y Francisco Sepúlveda

Location: Talavera de la Reina, Spain
Architects: OOIIO
Team Competiton: Joaquín Millán Villamuelas, Jesús Reyes García, Gloria Moya Paniagua
Design Development: Joaquín Millán Villamuelas, Jesús Reyes García
Construcon: Joaquín Millán Villamuelas, Jesús Reyes García
Client: Council of Talavera de La Reina
Area: 2.100 m2
Status: Competion, 1st Prize. Built.
Photographys: Eugenio H. Vegue y Francisco Sepúlveda, Courtesy of OOIIO

Rehabilitation of Plaza de San Miguel in Talavera de la Reina
Photo © Eugenio H. Vegue y Francisco Sepúlveda
Rehabilitation of Plaza de San Miguel in Talavera de la Reina
Photo © Eugenio H. Vegue y Francisco Sepúlveda
Rehabilitation of Plaza de San Miguel in Talavera de la Reina
Photo © Eugenio H. Vegue y Francisco Sepúlveda
Rehabilitation of Plaza de San Miguel in Talavera de la Reina
San Miguel Square
Rehabilitation of Plaza de San Miguel in Talavera de la Reina
Rehabilitation Plaza del Salvador
Rehabilitation of Plaza de San Miguel in Talavera de la Reina
Rehabilitation Plaza del Salvador
Rehabilitation of Plaza de San Miguel in Talavera de la Reina
Rehabilitation Plaza del Salvador
Rehabilitation of Plaza de San Miguel in Talavera de la Reina
Rehabilitation Plaza del Salvador
Rehabilitation of Plaza de San Miguel in Talavera de la Reina
Rehabilitation Plaza del Salvador
Rehabilitation of Plaza de San Miguel in Talavera de la Reina
Rehabilitation Plaza del Salvador
Rehabilitation of Plaza de San Miguel in Talavera de la Reina
Rehabilitation San Miguel Square
Rehabilitation of Plaza de San Miguel in Talavera de la Reina
Rehabilitation San Miguel Square

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