“Capitalizing on the inherent qualities of the topography” – Holcim Awards Jury
This work makes a beneficial contribution to the characteristically dry region of the targeted context. Particularly innovative is how the project capitalizes on the inherent qualities of the topography to collect and retain water. Also credited is the proposal for time phasing of the work that gives priority to water recycling and thereafter provides guidelines for gradual development of the park. This will ensure that no resource are wasted, thus suggesting a strong ecological sensibility concerning the natural environment.
Last updated: June 23, 2005 Zurich, Switzerland
Certainly another significant ecological contribution of the project is the proposal to transform empty or deserted sites into “green” resources that serve to preserve, recycle, and purify water, while also supporting the generation of new species of flora and fauna.
The project also achieves a balance between urban and landscape design, combining both to yield spaces with unrestricted access to all visitors, including handicapped and those with reduced mobility. This factor signals a proactive ethical stance to generating communal spaces. Strong economic performance is promised for the local region. An interesting approach is forwarded for the development and transformation over time, combining a systematic method with a high sensitivity to the context.