MEMORY

The municipality of city of Vitoria and the regional authorities of Álava opened a competition for the redevelopment of an already urbanized parallel city at the north of the city of Vitoria. “LACUA”, as a public new town, was developed adjacent to the north of the city of Vitoria, a fast-growing historic capital with relevant city center, an excellent historic expansion and a typical massive “open block” construction for the recent growth. Planning adapted a grid of 700 x 300 meters, similar to that of “Milton Keynes” New town in England.

The competition was for the design to develop 2 blocks. Our proposal reconsidered the whole total of 7 empty super-blocks. Interior pedestrian and bus lanes and squares, of a zigzag itinerary, connected community and central facilities of the blocks. 3 different residential  typologies were designed: low rise towers of 10 stories; 3 story cloisters of 60 x 60 meters dimension; and 1 family row houses at the edge of the city. A new central square, surrounded by administrative and commercial structures, was included in the central block. The competition was not developed after a large design effort by 7 selected teams. Our proposal analyzed the relationship between typologies and the interior open spaces of the super-blocks.