The Murallas del Carmen are only a short walk from the town hall and Iglesia de Santa María la Mayor. It is close enough to Plaza Duquesa de Parcent to serve as a secondary public space. The hard paved walk within the walls could be softened by utilizing vertical landscaping in line with the plants used for the Camino de los Arrabales and a planting program similar to that of Plaza Duquesa. We also propose replacing the existing stone cladding with traditional stone masonry, or at least with a lime plaster coating.
We were struck by the vistas available to the walls and envisioned updating and securing access to the top of the wall and tower for visitors. A traditional Moorish sunken garden would replace the current hard landscaping. A shallow channel of water would extend from a zellige fountain at the staircase to a grotto set inside the tower. The central axis of the plaza would be emphasized by a modest-sized marble fountain set inside a shallow pool of water fed by the channels. The existing accessibility ramp would be replaced by a longer ramp that connects to the lower terrace and is partially covered by a wooden arbor. The current parking would be reduced, while the existing hillside would be landscaped.
Along the southeastern wall, we’re proposing a loggia. Utilizing brick horseshoe arches with traditional lime plaster, the loggia would add to the space rather than replace or dominate its character. The interior wall would be partially tiled, with built-in benches. An intervention in a public space is an intervention in the collective memory of the people. The hope is to build upon their memories rather than overwrite them. Through this lens, our intervention aims to serve as the recovery of a lost memory.
