Union point. Sencelles village square by Moneo Brock

Description of project by Moneo Brock

The project is located in the Plaza de la Villa in the small Mallorcan municipality of Sencelles, an important plot of land in the town as the church, the Town Hall, the post office, the bus stop and the corner bar are concentrated in one place. , “Cafe Ca'n Paris”.

As in so many other towns in the Spanish geography, the square had completely lost its use as a public space. During the last decades, this square, where several narrow streets converge, has been used as a parking lot for residents. The contest proposed by the City Council contemplated the need to study the vehicular mobility of the entire town and change it, so that this space could be recovered for the citizenry and to be able to host events such as markets, dances, processions, etc. The important citizen participation has been essential to better understand the needs of the people.

The square was divided into two platforms separated by a large staircase leading to the entrance to the church. One of the objectives was to be able to achieve universal accessibility. A new pedestrian ramp and a set of steps connect the two different levels, and allow everyone to access the upper part of the town and the parish of San Pere, whose origins date back to the year 1236.


Sencelles village square by Moneo Brock. Photography by Michael Moran.

The new public space is now a large meeting and enjoyment area, a place of social integration. By eliminating sidewalks, curbs and asphalt, the new continuous paving unifies and enlarges the square, erasing the existing limits and architectural barriers, although a unidirectional coexistence vehicular path is maintained, shared with pedestrians and cyclists, delimited by bollards.

This redistribution of the square allows a flexible use; It is a daily place of rest and meeting, the weekly market on Saturdays finds support for the stalls and traditional festivities such as festivals, or small theaters, see their capacity increased.

The design is adapted to a specific climatic context, protecting the square from the heat by means of four pergolas and abundant vegetation. Under the pergolas we have designed some concrete benches produced by the local Huguet industry. These enclosures will act by promoting the meeting of different groups and of different ages. All the materials and plant species that have been used are local, and they give their best in the Mediterranean climate. In addition, the craftsmanship and construction techniques of the island have been decisive in the project, and its use allows us to talk about local production and a Mallorcan character. For example, the pergolas are made up of ceramic vaults whose earthy texture and color blends in with that of the surrounding buildings.


Sencelles village square by Moneo Brock. Photography by Michael Moran.

Finally, the design is based on several concepts that allow us to speak of a sustainable project: reduction of vehicular space, improvement of active mobility, design of a quality public space for citizens to meet, renaturation of public space, reduction of waste through the reuse of materials, use of local materials and passive measures to control the sun, temperature and improve comfort.