Riverside Walk. Ayamonte, Huelva.
Even though the concept of Globalization is a contemporary idea, in fact it arose during the first oceanic voyages, Columbus´s voyage, and from an Andalusian port.
Since the origins of the civilizations, harbours have allowed for exchange ideas, trade and culture.
Harbours have been always connected to cities or communities through which the city has expressed itself, shown itself abroad.
The relationship between City and Harbour has been ambivalent due to their specificity of their diverse activities which have continuously established a complex relationship not always achieving a fusion.
The nature of this relationship has been transformed over time, leading to the integration of their spaces, a gene exchange that favours the citizens area and the opening of the city to fluid environment.
Puertos de Andalucia has been working in that way for a long time, exceeding the monothematic course that is supposed to be its work, to clearly attend the integration of the port and the city.
Ayamonte Riverside Walk is part of the wise policy of not acting alone at one of the two aspects of the issue, port of city, but go advance in this process of port integration that we understand necessary for our territory.
This project occupies a special place, the Guadiana River, whose banks serve as a mirror to two countries united by a long tradition.
Above a bank of the Guadiana River of three hundred ab fifty meters, along Muelle de Portugal Street, a light platform has been designed on two levels suspended over the water, finished with a smooth natural wooden flooring, between whose joints the flow of the tides can be seen.
The platform works as a walk, and a place to stay; To this end, the criterion of arranging integrated linear benches that run along its entire length has been considered, forming part of the wooden plank as folds, trying to overcome the idea of urban furniture – benches – superimposed on the main work.
Color is present in the linear elements of the railings, suggesting a luminous front by reflecting the ambient light, which can be observed from the other side and from the water.
LED lighting, low-height street lamps with ambient diffusion elements and beacons integrated into the platform, are proposed for the use of the space in late hours, without stridently affecting either the houses or the gentle flow of the river.
The eastern front of the city of Ayamonte, on the banks of the Guadiana, a congested traffic route, with a large part of the old port warehouses abandoned, may find in this action the possibility of being renewed. A bike lane is attached, which will link this section with future actions.
The city of Ayamonte can find in this action the possibility of renovating this front with a linear area of enjoyment and walking, from where the views of the river and the neighbouring country can be appreciated.
A port project, along the lines indicated, offers the city new possibilities for its reorientation, the port-city dilemma is undone by advancing in the integration of the citizen space.
Location:
Muelle de Portugal Street. Ayamonte, Huelva. Spain.
Design year:
2012 año del proyecto de construcción
Year Completed:
2021
