salgado e linares arquitectos preserve the shortcut of the clever
‘la chainza’ by salgado e liñares arquitectos, galicia, spain
image © hector santos-diez
all images courtesy of salgado e liñares arquitectos
the historic pilgrimage trail ‘camino real’ passes through the small town of noia in the galician community of northern spain, where an aging stone bridge and wash basin have provided a point of rest and safe passage for travelers, nick-named the ‘shortcut of the clever’. over the years of abandon the city has developed around the historic site, pushing it further from the center and from a logical urban integration. fortunately, its isolation from the community has in fact helped to preserve the site from a probable demolition. local practice salgado e liñares arquitectos have begun the first phase of its reintegration into the fabric of the city so that the public may once again enjoy the structure. the architects are implementing a 6 point plan to rehabilitate the space: asphalt will be removed and replaced with granite stone pavers, turning the surrounding roads into pedestrian zones. deteriorating edges are re-established with the same stone, with a new lighting scheme that will illuminate various aspects of the site and structure. the section of the trail that runs through the site will be restored as well, including the medieval bridge that will be connected with the trail, the fountain and wash basin will also be reactivated, as they are still perfectly usable today.
washing area
image © hector santos-diez
roof structure is preserved with contemporary materials, preserving the original look and scale
image © hector santos-diez
replaced granite stone pieces
image © hector santos-diez
image © hector santos-diez
lighting scheme illuminates various components
image © hector santos-diez
new and old stone detail
image © hector santos-diez
original pathway
image © hector santos-diez
bridge and structure
image © hector santos-diez
image © hector santos-diez
image © hector santos-diez
existing structure
image © hector santos-diez
image © hector santos-diez
image © hector santos-diez
project info:
location: a chaínza, santa maría do obre, concello de noia, a coruña, españa
arquitects: salgado e liñares arquitectos – alfonso salgado suárez, francisco xavier liñares túñez, manuel ángel liñares túñez
collaborating architects: santiago rey conde, carla agra garcía
ethnographic studio: ana filgueiras rei
installations: miguel ángel rodríguez raposo
drawing: sergio sánchez alcalde
photographs: héctor santos-díez
client: concello de noia
construction: construcciones ces, s.l.
budget: 168.004,77 euros
cost/m2: 41,71 euros/m2
built area: 4.028,01 m2
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