Pablo Gamboa – Renovation of Piazza Alfonso López

PROJECT: Pablo Gamboa – Renovation of Piazza Alfonso López

LOCATION: Valledupar, Colombia

YEAR: 2018

ARCHITECT / FIRM: Pablo Gamboa Arquitectos. Project realizised with the Universidad Nacional de Colombia.

BUYER: Alcaldía de Valledupar – Municipality of Valledupar

SURFACE: 10.440 sqm

PRICE: € 3.300.000

DESCRIPTION:
The municipality of Valledupar (Alcaldía) wanted to completely redesign the existing square in order to relaunch the historic centre as a cultural and touristic place, both for the citizens of Valledupar and for tourists. The city is home to an important popular music festival "Vallenata", recognized throughout the country and the Andean region. The project involves the pedestrianisation of the perimeter streets, which are currently under construction, the removal of the car park along Via Sesta, the replacement of the urban flooring and furnishings, the planting of new trees and the replacement of the existing concert stage with a new stage with services under the height of the square.

TOTAL REPLACEMENT / DISCONTINUITY: The new functional program has completely replaced the original one.

DESCRIPTION:
Even if the transformation was total, the functional program remains the same.

TOTAL CONSERVATION / CONTINUITY: The investor is the property owner.

DESCRIPTION:
The investor is the municipality of the city, Alcaldía de Valledupar.

- SURFACE present EXTENSION,

PREVALENT CONSERVATION / CONTINUITY: The overall dimensions increase moderately with respect to the pre-existing surface.

- VOLUME present EXTENSION,

PREVALENT CONSERVATION / CONTINUITY: The overall dimensions increase moderately with respect to the pre-existing volume.

DESCRIPTION:
The square grows on the surface because of the pedestrianisation of two of the perimeter streets.

PREVALENT CONSERVATION / CONTINUITY: Pre-existing spaces are prevalent with respect to new spaces.

DESCRIPTION:
The space of the square will increase, the square will extend on two sides up to the facades of the houses that surround it. Even if the work on the square is finished, the pedestrianisation is still in progress.

TOTAL REPLACEMENT / DISCONTINUITY: The original supporting structure has been completely replaced by a new structure.

DESCRIPTION:
The project strategy was to maintain the functions and the values of use connected to them, totally transforming the formal and linguistic contents with the new materials of the floors and with the urban furniture.

TOTAL REPLACEMENT / DISCONTINUITY: The materials chosen for the new intervention are completely different from the pre-existing ones.

DESCRIPTION:
The flooring material used is a local stone in two different tones that takes up in the design local indigenous geometric motifs of the Aruaca culture, very present in the area. The existing klincher floor, worn out by use, has been totally replaced.

TOTAL REPLACEMENT / DISCONTINUITY: The new intervention is in total contrast with the existing structures.

DESCRIPTION:
The image of the square has totally changed. The geometric pattern of the flooring, which refers to indigenous motifs of the Aruacos, in its scale and repetition, transforms the space and makes it take on contemporary values.