'palmeral', elche, spain proposal by SANAA
image courtesy SANAA

japanese firm SANAA were awarded second prize in the international competition of
'mirador del palmeral de elche', spain. the palm grove of elche is a UNESCO world
heritage site in valencia and the competition was organised by the city to provide a landmark
for the area, as well as enhance the agricultural palm arabic tradition.

the proposal is for a reflective path that undulates through the palm trees and spirals up
into the sky, offering a view across the palmeral and city. it stretches from the ground
up to 64m, providing an experience of the palms that is both human and urban in scale.
the lower parts drift through the landscape, rising up into the canopy of the trees. as one
emerges above the tops of the palm trees the city opens up and the curved route up to the summit
of the observation tower provides continuously changing views out over the elche landscape.
the spiralling tower stands as an icon in the city, a pivot around which the palm tree groves extend.
seen from below the aluminium surface reflects the palm trees below, drawing them up into the
sky, to be seen from afar.


'palmeral', elche, spain proposal
image courtesy SANAA


'palmeral', elche, spain proposal
image courtesy SANAA

the project is composed of two primary elements. the first is a horizontal, ramp that
moves from ground level up to a maximum height of 22m, providing visitors with
a quiet route 770m long through the trees. its looping form creates softly articulated
gardens at ground level. the second element is a 584m spiralling staircase that stretches
from ground level to 64m in the sky, revealing the extents of the palmeral within the landscape
as a whole. the two loops are connected at one point, allowing varying routes along the path.


'palmeral', elche, spain proposal
image courtesy SANAA


'palmeral', elche, spain proposal
image courtesy SANAA

the combination of these two forms of directional movement creates a new
kind of observation tower, a tower that allows you to experience a changing
landscape rather than merely providing a destination point in the air from
which to see across the city. the existing road and above ground parking areas are
to be converted into a park of young palm trees, providing new gardens, a café lounge
and event spaces that can be enjoyed by both local residents and visitors to the palmeral.


'palmeral' - site, elche, spain
image courtesy SANAA


'palmeral' - site, elche, spain
image courtesy SANAA