The old motorway entrance to the city of Oviedo (Asturias, northern Spain) has been almost completely transformed in recent years. One of the most ambitious and complex sections so far is a large roundabout designed to filter and divert the previously heavy traffic. You must bear in mind that in this part of Spain there is only a very weak tradition of landscape architecture. Interventions in public spaces have always been very traditional, and a project that combines sustainability, combating climate change and shows contemporary aesthetics is something very innovative here. In fact, the entire project was followed with great anticipation by the public and covered extensively in the local press.

The project was promoted by the Oviedo City Council and financed by Next Generations (EU). The civil engineering firm Incenersa was awarded the contract. Given the project’s significant social and environmental impact, Incenersa commissioned us to design the landscaping. The project included not only the enormous roundabout, but also all the surrounding areas, forming a transformation that completely changed the previous character of the place into a new urban landscape. This meant the creation of large wooded areas throughout the zone surrounding the large roundabout. The same species that are arranged in symmetrical and regular rows inside the roundabout are combined in the irregular groups that form these urban forests. Tree species are: Betula utilis ‘Jacquemontii’, Prunus serrulata ‘Royal Red’, Quercus rubra ‘Borealis’, Aesculus x carnea ‘Briotii’, Cornus florida ‘American Alemart’ and Magnolia denudata ‘Yunan’.

A large pedestrian walkway replaced an old viaduct at the request of the City Council due to a monument of immense value is located very close to this construction site. This is the Church of Santullano, a building linked to the “pre-Romanesque” style (9th century) and to the Asturian monarchy, which began the Reconquista of the Iberian Peninsula. This grand pedestrian promenade, connecting two densely populated city neighborhoods, was adorned with expressive, low-maintenance shrub plantings. The tree planting areas along this promenade deliberately break its straight line. All pavements are permeable, and rainwater is collected in underground cisterns for use as irrigation water.

My team and I had to adhere to the traffic lane layout, the size of the roundabout, and the new pedestrian walkway. More importantly, we had to transform the area’s former character as a mere highway into a space that was attractive to people, sustainable, and rich in scenic resources. The guiding principle was to work with urban forests while maintaining a contemporary style. 378 new tres and about 900 shrubs and perennials have been planted.

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