parc güell, barcelona
Park Güell is a fragile structure, an extraordinary work by Gaudí that is subject to intense use on a daily basis, relentlessly damaging it. Despite all the maintenance and restoration work, user impact is so extreme that it calls for more drastic solutions to the pressure on the existing construction.
This is the purpose of the work presented here, employing a clear strategy: diverting the massive influx of visitors towards other, less sensitive points. The project involved several interventions. Some set out to consolidate and maintain the existing layout of paths, ensuring that rainwater is properly channelled and drained to reduce erosion. Others centred on constructing new paths that link Park Güell with the surrounding hills to channel visitor flows towards them or to create new paths with steps that provide a choice of entrances. Still others aimed to create new hubs with recreational areas or viewpoints as an altemative to the main plaza.
All the interventions address Gaudí's work with the strictest respect, placing themselves at its service. Rather than seeking prominence, they offer a clear reading of the differences between the existing work and the new operations.