Navarcles Skateplaza by PMAM + SKATE Architects

26/09/2017. [Navarcles - Barcelona] Spain
metalocus, JOSÉ JUAN BARBA
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The city of Barcelona has been, and it is, since the 1990s, a true skateboard Mecca. Step by step it irradiates its influence all around until specific spaces for practice have been added in many more cities. Although segregation is still tending to avoid the supposed conflict between the skater and the users of the urban space, the new spaces advocate the meeting between them, the integration of skater culture, with projects more and more interesting and urban.
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On this occasion, the PMAM + SKATE Architects practices have been associated with the development of this plazaskate project, who have been in charge of conceiving this new space for the practice of the Skateboard in the city of Navarcles, near Barcelona, designing a proposal formally very forceful, attractive and at the same time minimalist in its materials, and with very interesting geometric clarity.
 

Description of project by PMAM + SKATE Architects

A new skate facility for the city of Navarcles is conceived as a plaza. Despite a low budget to begin with, this facility for skateboarding is considered as an opportunity to contribute in the urban development of the city, transforming an old sports area into a new public park. Now being an Olympic sport, the project rather departs from the fact of street skateboarding being a common and compatible reality on streets and plazas of our cities, a collateral product of urban public space design. Viewed in this light, the project pursues to also structure its immediate surroundings, to set an effect beyond of what’s strictly built and functional for skateboarding.

From this perspective, a field study is first made to recognize which plazas and public spaces have entailed Barcelona to become the international mecca of this urban side of the sport, in some sort of an unaware effect after the 92 Olympics transformation of the Catalan capital and  its innovative design policy of the so-called “plazas duras”.  The project features real “street” obstacles inspired by some of these iconic Barcelona designs, including replicas from the original “Paral.lel” platforms, the ledges at “Arc de Triomf” or the granite curbs at MACBA.

So the new skate facility is conceived as a PLAZA, a SKATEPLAZA. Standard public space materials are used to build it, such as pedestrian pavements or massive granite ledges and “hubbas”. The development of the plaza extends and shapes the new park around: Ramps and banks turn into soft green slopes. A new line of trees provides shadow for the skaters, but also defines the park space and a new façade for the industrial surroundings. Even the higher level of the skateplaza serves as a stage towards the park, for occasional city events and for the Rock’n’Board skate festival, organized annually by the local skaters.

The green slopes also chase to deter any unwanted corners or graffiti, avoiding vertical facings or the need of protective handrails. The great granite blocks subtly enclose the perimeter of the space for skateboarding.

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More information

Architects
PMAM + SKATE ARCHITECTS
Client
Ajuntament de Navarcles
Security Quantity Surveyor
Raül Ramón
Area
657m²
Dates
Fecha de terminación.- Septiembre 2016
Venue
Calle Pla del Cos, s/n, Navarcles, Bages. Barcelona. Spain
Builder
Construccions F60 + SkateGo

Architecture Studio PMAM

PMAM is a Barcelona and Sitges based Architecture studio. Our work has been recognized by several awards, exhibited and published worldwide. Since 2002, we have worked on urban, landscape, cultural, residential, comercial and sport projects for both public and private sectors. Beside our practice, we teach at universities and international workshops, we do research through PhD studies and we take part actively in cultural promotion as collaborators in architectural institutions and associations.

Team + Collaborators.- P.Martin, C.Medina, C.Ocaña, A.Elizalde, E.Mejergren, R.Ramón, M.Rius, T.Carbonell, P.Téllez.

P. Martin
Ph.D Dipl. Architect - C.O.A.C. Member
2000-2003  Works for Jean Nouvel (Paris, France)
2002  Degree in Architecture ETSAV-UPC
2016  Ph.D. in Architecture UPC
2004-07 Professor at the ETSAV-UPC Urbanism/Projects
2004-16 Professor at many International Workshops (Rabat, Istanbul, Barcelona).
He has also collaborated with the Mies van der Rohe Foundation and the Danish Archietctural Center (DAC).

Awards and Scholarships
2017 FAD Award Shortlisted Navarcles
2012 Biennial Comarques Centrals Shortlisted
2008 Second Prize Tortosa Swiming Hall Competition
2007-2004 Researcher Formation Scholarship FI
2003 Dragados Diploma Award Honorable Mention
2000 Caja de Arquitectos Scholarship for Internships at International Offices: Architectures Jean Nouvel, Paris
1998 First Prize + National Mention Pladur Competition

Research and Education
2016 - Ph.D "Incidencia del Lugar en la obra de Arne Jacobsen (1950-1964)" Degree with honours Cum Laude.
Architectural Design Departament. U.P.C. ETSAB.
2012 - Research fellowship KADK Copenhagen, DK.
2009 - PhD thesis title approval.
2007 - Researcher Diploma (DEA) UPC.
2004 - Research stay in Copenhagen, DK.
2002 - Architect Degree ETSAV-UPC. A+ Grade Diploma.
1996 - First year Architecture Studies.
1995 - First year Economics Studies UB Barcelona.
1995 - Self-studies in Architecture.
1993 - U.C. Berkeley ELP TOEFL Exam Course.
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