Pormetxeta Square, Barakaldo Mixed Use Development, Spanish Urban Realm, Spain

Pormetxeta Square : Barakaldo Architecture

Spanish Urban Plan – design by Xpiral Architecture + MTM Architects

17 Apr 2013

Pormetxeta Square Development

Design: Xpiral Architecture + MTM Architects

Location: Barakaldo, Bilbao, Basque Country, north east Spain

Square in Barakaldo

The Pormetxeta Square, was the result of the “Europan VI” competition of 2001. The project was selected to take part in the Spanish Architecture Exhibition “On Site” that was organized at MoMA in New York in 2006; afterwards the exhibited model was acquired by the museum.

photo : David Frutos

Industrial identity
The district of Barakaldo is situated on a very steep slope above the Nervion River, where a complex urban plan was developed in the Sixties by “Altos Hornos de Vizcaya.”

Core Urban Flow We modified the existing plan (Urban-Galindo) in order to create the New Barakaldo Square the benefits of which were two-fold for the city: on the one hand a new access point to the urban centre, on the other hand a better flow and mobility from the city to the river .

photos : David Frutos

Well-Equipped Arterial Communications The very steep slope of the plot (20-meter) was seen as an opportunity for the creation of a new urban typology. First of all, several accesses and approaches are linked: the railway platform, the highway connections, the entry towards the river promenade, the pedestrian paths and streets, the access from the upper and lower streets, the “Desierto” Square, the school.
Secondly we saved all the space under each “Pormetxeta Ramp” in order to gain 2.341 m2 of public and private businesses and services.

photos : David Frutos

The animated square
The “Pormetxeta Square” is found under the long ramps. There are some holes that qualify the space with playgrounds and lend it a unique topography. Large artificial trees 11.5m tall, made of COR-TEN steel, with hanging stones forming the crown of the tree, and working as a parasol. Beneath them, all you can hear is the laughter of children, the roller skaters, people talking.

Size: Residential: 10,856 m2
Parking: 4,049 m2
Commercial: 2,341 m2
Pedestrian space: 26,238 m2

Pormetxeta Square images / information from Xpiral Architecture + MTM Architects

Xpiral

Location: Barakaldo, Spain