The existing urban roof structure is adapted with mobile elements to achieve a greater level of protection in the interior and transform the covered space into an attractive place for the daily activities that take place in the plaza.
Project description by beSTe arkitektura
In 2005, together with the construction of a semi-underground car park in the Atsegindegi area of Hernani, Gipuzkoa, an urban roof-shaped structure was erected that covers an area of 1,200m² of the new plaza.
The weather of Hernani and the intensity of collective activities that are programmed in the municipality throughout the year, make the cover of Atsegindegi square the designated place to move concerts, carnivals, popular markets, and other collective events when the time does not allow to do them in the squares and streets of the town. This experience of using the square in different ways showed new needs for the infrastructure.
Initially, it was requested to design a system of lateral protections for the days when activities are held inside, and the rain together with the prevailing winds in the area are a concern. To this first request, other derivatives of the deficiencies that are detected through the contrasts interviews made to neighbors, agents, and groups of Hernani are added.
Among other aspects, the lack of natural light in such a large space, the reverberation of noises and sounds, or the lack of spaces to sit or meet are noted. Consequently, the main objectives of the project are marked: adapting the existing urban roof structure with mobile lateral protections for holding public events with a higher level of protection and transforming the covered space itself into an attractive place for the daily activities that occur in the square.
The project takes three main strategies:
-Change of the opaque cover material in some of its sections to introduce translucent materials. Polycarbonates and tensioned textiles are used as sound absorption materials.
-Build two side pavilions that, in addition to acting as warehouses, make up the side covers and generate bleachers at both ends of the square. In these pavilions, the furniture commonly used in the events that take place in the plaza will be stored, and they will host new mobile furniture that will be displayed throughout the plaza and will be adapted for children's games or small libraries related to the programming of the house of culture next to the plaza.
-Install fixed and mobile protection facades on the north façade to promote the versatility of the use in the plaza.
The project seeks to be more than an urban roof. The new plaza is an infrastructure adaptable to multiple uses.
