Parque del Oeste - West Park, Málaga
This park is located in the suburb of Huelin in the west of the city, hence its name. It is bordered by Calle Luis Barahona de Soto to the north, Calle Francisco Cossío to the west, Avenida Pacífico to the south and Calle Diamantino García Acosta to the east. It has a surface area of 12,071 m². Originally built in 1990, it was designed by Eduardo Serrano. The initial project in 1990 was a reflection on landscaping in the city, public space and the urban habitat. In short, a major plan for the city. While the north of the city was renovated in the year 2000, the south lay abandoned, bereft of any kind of maintenance, when I was awarded this project. Its state at the time can be seen in the photographs.
What is a PARK? A park can be many things: a place in which to meet, play, relax, observe, contemplate, dream, even educate. It is not something that simply springs up in the city by chance, it must be an integral part of its urban structure, playing a key role in the both the relationship and balance between the occupied and empty spaces that make up the city itself. The park and art: the coming together of landscape and art sees an awakening of the senses, as nature meets creativity, stirring emotions and harbouring free thinking. A discourse between context and art ensues. The park and construction: an urban park is a construction. Construction begins with an idea, and this is followed by effort, tension, the filling of space with materials (water, earth, bricks, lampposts, benches, etc.), materials which constitute the elements used to build the objective: the park. Time and space in the park: time in the park is, or ought to be, immeasurable. A modified, altered space.
PARQUE DEL OESTE, MALAGA: ACTION STRATEGY: Fixed structures: a ziggurat, walls around the raised area, which features pergolas and affords views of the sea. Borders with ponds, ground drawings, boundaries. Elements in need of replacement: trees in extremely poor condition, gravel floor. Features introduced: a low stone and brick wall – this runs in a straight line throughout the whole of the southern section, marking out different spaces and locations. It can also be used for sitting on and acts as a boundary of contention for the soil. Trees planted: jacarandas, chorizas, brachichitos. Ziggurat: Metal birds, a sculpture designed for the top of the ziggurat. Initial objective: to create a forest on the stone mount, though later the idea of the birds in flight emerged. Collaboration: conversations with Stefan von Reiswitz. The bird was inspired by a sculpture of Stefan’s. There are sculptures by Stefan on different parts of the ziggurat and in the rest of the park. Trees planted: orange and olive trees. At the peak of the ziggurat, trees and living creatures. Benches and tables. Grassy knolls and a tree-lined walkway opposite the new pond. These create a dynamic area around the pond, rather than a straight route, and one that will be extremely cool once the trees have grown. (Pine-cone trees and brachichitos ). Pond: jets of water above the wall, creating a lighter appearance, levity being the desired effect. Area opposite the grassy knolls: concrete wall and existing pergolas. The wall was the element used to design a pond with grassy islets and is intended to house future sculptures, which may be viewed from the bridge across the pond. Trees: lemon trees. Water, grass, wood, plants (a link with the existing vegetation of the pergola on the concrete wall). A meeting area: access ways and pedestrian paths converge here. Four nodes, each containing palm trees. The trees in question are date palms and Washingtonia robusta. End-beginning: the gate in Avenida Pacífica, opposite the new section of the promenade.
