Plaza del Salvador Rehabilitation
OOIIO won the First Prize in the competition to run the rehabilitation of Plaza del Salvador, in Talavera de la Reina, Spain. Construction works have been recently completed.
OOIIO proposal made traditional local ceramic, the most important craft product in Talavera, become the protagonist. The process has served to revitalize local craft industry, prevent the closure of small family businesses that have collaborated with OOIIO, showing new formats to use ceramics, not only the traditional kitchen objects pottery, but also to revitalize urban spaces.
OOIIO won two competitions to recycle 2 urban spaces in Talavera de la Reina, Spain, Plaza del Salvador and Plaza de San Miguel, thanks to 2 proposals where ceramic is the protagonist.
Ceramic in Talavera is very important. Over there it is a centuries-old tradition, that is today on a difficult time doubt to the economical crisis. After this OOIIO´s project we show how this material can also be used for the rehabilitation of public spaces with new formats.
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.
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 anphiteatre, 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 emphasized, as long as we preserve a 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 and open to everyone.
Designed by OOIIO
Project Year: 2014-2015
Team. Competiton: Joaquín Millán Villamuelas, Magdalena Polvorinos, Gabriela Sanz, Miguel Cárdenas. Design Development: Joaquín Millán Villamuelas, Magdalena Polvorinos. Construction: Joaquín Millán Villamuelas, Jesús Reyes García
Photography: Eugenio H. Vegue y Francisco Sepúlveda
Location: Talavera de la Reina, Spain
Area: 1.065 m2
Client: Council of Talavera de La Reina
Budget: 249.900 euros
Status: Competition. 1st Prize. Built
