REORGANISATION OF AN ATLANTIC METROPOLITAN REGION DRAFT. ETH Studio Basel

Transcription

1 REORGANISATION OF AN ATLANTIC METROPOLITAN REGION

2 ETH STUDIO BASEL PROF. JACQUES HERZOG & PIERRE DE MEURON SIMON HARTMANN CHRISTIAN MÜLLER INDERBITZIN JOHN PALMESINO ANN-SOFI RÖNNSKOG MICHÈLE ZIEGLER GÉRARD LERNER WS 05/06

3 LAS PALMAS DEVELOPMENT TOWARDS THE HIGHLANDS

4 LAS PALMAS - ISTHMO

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6 INTRODUCTION After rapid growth caused by mass tourism during the last decades, the city of Las Palmas is undergoing a transformation process. Both structural changes, going hand in hand with the uncontrolled growth of the last forty years as well as a programmatic process of segregation are about to transform the whole of the island of Gran Canaria. While mass tourism is shifting towards the south, the agricultural activities are concentrating in the north-western part of the island, in an area called Galdar. Stretching throughout north-eastern part of Gran Canaria, Las Palmas forms a centre of trade and services. The purpose of current urban interventions in Las Palmas is to strengthening both the center as well as the periphery of the strongly fragmented city by extending existing and establishing new axes of connections. LAS PALMAS - SNAPSHOTS

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8 GRAN CANARIA NORTH INBETWEEN AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE

9 LAS PALMAS - BARRANCO DE VILLAVERDE

10 GRAN CANARIA NORTH TOPOGRAPHICAL BORDERS GRAN CANARIA - TOPOGRAPHY BORDERS Regarding the northern region of Gran Canaria, spacial continuity exists only along the coastal area. The Barranco-structure, typical for the island s landscape, was generated by various volcano eruptions. Those natural barriers form numerous disconnections, complicating the accessibility on the island. The steep cliffs along the western coast are an obstacle for the development of settlements. Thus, they form the western end of Gran Canaria North. The eastern end is also defined by cliffs which are partly removed in order to connect the North with the South.

11 NORTH-WEST CLIFFS BARRANCOS NORTH-EAST CLIFFS

12 GRAN CANARIA NORTH 3 REGIONS GRAN CANARIA - 3 REGIONS GALDAR - FIRGAS - LAS PALMAS Due to the different topographical areas, the North can be divided into three regions. The lowland of Galdar in the west, the Barranco-structure behind the coastline, and the lowland of Las Palmas. They are the principal components within the segregation process on the island. SECTION GALDAR SECTION BARRANCO AYALA SECTION LAS PALMAS

13 LOWLAND OF GALDAR NORTHERN BARRANCO-STRUCTURE LOWLAND OF LAS PALMAS

14 GRAN CANARIA NORTH GALDAR TENERIFE LOWLAND LOWLAND OF GALDAR CENTRE OF AGRICULTURE The lowland of Galdar is surrounded by two small volcano hills which surround the outback. The humid climate in the north, as well as the large amount of usable land around Galdar create an excellent condition for agricultural development. surface: 67.6 km 2 height: 434 m.ü.m inhabitants:

15 PICO DE LA ATALAYA SETTLEMENTS PLANTAGES WATER SUPPLY GALDAR - ZOOM IN

16 GRAN CANARIA NORTH FIRGAS FIRGAS ARTIFICAL LANDSCAPE BARRANCO AZUAYE TRANSFORMING BARRANCOS During the last few years, a process of transformation materialized in the Barrancos. The numerous artificial terraces which have been constructed for the agricultural use of land are increasingly developing into settlements. The decrease of agricultural activities that is the result of a booming service market, allows a transformation of agricultural land into settlement land. surface: 15,77 km 2 height: 465 m.ü.m inhabitants: 6 814

17 SPREADING SETTLEMENTS TRACES OF AGRICULTURE WATER SUPPLY FIRGAS - ZOOM IN

18 GRAN CANARIA NORTH LAS PALMAS ISLETA PLAYA DE LAS CANTERAS LAS PALMAS - ISTHMO CENTRE OF TRADE AND SERVICE Since the days of Christopher Columbus, Las Palmas grew to become one of the most important centres for intercontinental trade in the Atlantic. Shaped by diverse cultural influences from South America, Western Africa, and Europe, Las Palmas became a cosmopolitan city of a special kind. The island s capital is today a commercial and cultural nexus and is influenced by migration and tourism movements from the surrounding region. Additionally, the urban structure of Las Palmas is marked by exceptional topographical conditions. The construction, resembling a bottleneck, is called Isthmus. The structure of the barrancos, lying in the highlands, causes a strong separation in space, thereby characterizing the city with a unique face. surface:100,55 km 2 height: 8 m.ü.m inhabitants:

19 PUERTO DE LA LUZ HIGHWAY SHIPPING SHOPPING LAS PALMAS - ZOOM IN

20 LAS PALMAS FROM THE COASTLINE TOWARDS THE HIGHLANDS

21 TUNNEL ALCARAVANERAS - GUANARTEME

22 LAS PALMAS TOPOGRAPHICAL DIVISION LOW TERRACE BACK OF NOROESTE HIGH TERRACE ELEVATION OF SAN LORENZO BACK OF TAFIRA

23 URBANISATION URBAN SETTLEMENTS RURAL SETTLEMENTS

24 LAS PALMAS CHARACTERISTICAL DIVISION PORT DOWNTOWN SUBURBANISATION RURAL SPRAWL

25 URBAN TRANSFORMATIONS NEW ENHANCEMENTS CURRENT GROWTH EXPECTED GROWTH

26 LAS PALMAS DEVELOPMENT PREURBAN LANDSCAPE The City of Las Palmas didn t grow out of one nucleus, as for example most European cities did, but developed out of two distinct origins. While the nucleus of urban development in the northern part was a military fortress, the nucleus in the South, the second pole within the urbanization process, forms the old city of today.

27 MILITARY BASE ADMINISTRATION

28 LAS PALMAS DEVELOPMENT ISTHMO AROUND ISTHMO AROUND ISTHMO AROUND

29 MILITARY UNTIL URBAN DEVELOPMENT

30 LAS PALMAS PORT INDUSTRY PORT PUERTO DE LA LUZ PUERTO DE LA LUZ Las Palmas is in permanent correlation with other areas of Gran Canaria, such as the neighbourhood island of the archipelago, the Spanish mainland as well as the three continents surrounding the island. The port of Las Palmas is the centre of those interactions. The industrial port amounts to a surface of 18.3 ha. The main activities are: bunkering, fishing, and the transhipment of industrial containers and its shipyards. Furthermore, Las Palmas port offers a special tax-free custom zone, called Zona Especial Canaria (ZEC). This low-tax region was created through support by the European Union. With the goal of boosting the economy of the Canary Islands (Consorcio ZEC 2006). Adjacent to the port area, the slope of Isleta provides as an industrial zone thousands of square meters of storage area.

31 CONTAINER YACHT PORT SPORT PORT MILITARY PORT MILITARY PORT FUEL STORAGE CARGO TRANSIT INDUSTRY PORT - ZOOM IN

32 LAS PALMAS PORT EXTENSION Besides the different projects of extending the port that are currently under construction, the government also develops plans to redistribute parts of the industrial port back to the public. To achieve an interface between the city and the industrial harbour, an international competition was launched. The Muelle, an existing multicomplex, represents a first realisation of this planning concept.

33 PORT SURFACE 1962 PORT SURFACE 1977 PORT SURFACE 2003 LAND EXTENSION PIER EXTENSION PUERTO DE LA LUZ - ZOOM IN

34 LAS PALMAS PORT AREA OF "GRAN MARINA" COMPETITION LAS PALMAS - GRAN MARINA

35 DISJUNCTION GETTING PUBLIC PUBLIC LAS PALMAS - EL MUELLE

36 LAS PALMAS PORT CROSSING THE ATLANTIC DRAKKAR FROM FRANCE PUERTO DEPORTIVO At the edge of the port area lies a sport- and yacht marina. The Puerto Deportivo is is an important center for international sailing events, such as the annual Atlantic Rally Crossing. Because it is the biggest yachtharbour in the Canary Islands and the last docking station before crossing the Atlantic, there are continuous plans to extend the area. INTERVIEW WITH HENRY

37 PUBLIC DISJUNCTION PUBLIC EXTENSIONS PUBLIC PUERTO DEPORTIVO

38 LAS PALMAS DOWNTOWN VEGUETEA & TRIANA ARENALES LAS PALMAS - EAST COAST THE BAND The urbanised coastline is a sequence of different structures brought together. It can be called Downtown Las Palmas. The division between the districts is characteristic for this urbanised band. It is mainly accessible by the coastal road. Inside the band, there are many one-waystreets in order to access in the districts itself.

39 LUGO CIUDAD JARDIN SANTA CATALINA LUGO CIUDAD JARDIN DOWNTOWN LAS PALMAS - ZOOM IN

40 LAS PALMAS DOWNTOWN CUTTINGS URBANISED COASTLINE

41 WORKING SETTLED LIVING UNSETTLED HIGH DENSITY SHOPPING LOW DENDSITY LIVING HOUSING MILITARY NEW EXTENSIONS OLD EXTENSIONS CUTTINGS - ZOOM IN

42 LAS PALMAS DOWNTOWN ISLETA ISLETA

43 WORKING-CLASS DISTRICT One of the oldest areas of Las Palmas is situated at the bottom of the hill Isleta. It is mainly a living area for dock workers, fishermen, seamen and families with a low income. Isleta boarders in the north to a military base. The east-side terminates at the industrial-district and in the south it is closed off from the harbour by a commercial street. The houses in Isleta are simple, two to three storage and often run down. Although the colored fronts make a picturesque impression, Isleta is known for the highest criminality rate in Las Palmas.

44 LAS PALMAS DOWNTOWN ROOF USAGE SCRUFFY DENSE DWELLING EXTENSIONS ISLETA - ZOOM IN

45 ISLETA - INHABITANTS

46 LAS PALMAS DOWNTOWN SANTA CATALINA PLAYA DE LAS CANTERAS

47 TOURISTS AND MIGRANTS The district of Santa Catalina is situated on the Isthmus of the Island. In this bottleneck construction, which experienced a tremendous growth in the 60s by influx of tourists, there is a mixture of tourist activities and local live. With its many bars and restaurants, apartment hotels, few luxury hotels, as well as many commercial shops, Santa Catalina, without a doubt, is the centre of services in the band downtown. The narrow streets of the densely built city structures reflect the cosmopolitical spirit of Las Palmas. The multitude of different cultures is omnipresent. The conflictive two sides of the Isthmus are striking. Whilst one coast seems friendly to the public, the other side, the harbour, separated by the street, is for industrial purposes only.

48 LAS PALMAS DOWNTOWN PLAYA DE LAS CANTERAS LAS CANTERAS The hotels and apartments along the Playa de las Canteras underline the supporting role that which tourism plays nowadays. While in the south of Grand Canaria mainly Germans and Britons spend their holidays, the Spaniards from the mainland prefer the north. Despite the fact that mass tourism moved to the south, Las Canteras remained a tourist destination. In addition, many day-tourists which are visiting Las Palmas take the advantage of profiting form the wide cultural, commercial and congress activities.

49 BEACH LIFE LOCALS TOURISTS LOCAL CATWALK TOURISTIC PROMENADE LAS CANTERAS - BEACH

50 LAS PALMAS DOWNTOWN GUANATERME CALLE DE FERNANDO GUANARTEME

51 TRANSIT Guanaterme can be regarded as an extension of Santa Catalina. Except the Auditorio Alfredo Kraus and the commercial centre Las Arenas, it does not differ from Santa Catalina in terms of its structure and usage. Guanaterme, together with the Calle Fernando Guanarteme, is in connection the city. This relatively narrow Main Street that divides the entire district excites into a highway connecting the agglomeration with Downtown Las Palmas. This situation creates a tremendous traffic volume for this district.

52 LAS PALMAS DOWNTOWN CONNECTING THE PERIPHERY ENTRANCE TO THE CITY GUANARTEME - GC3

53 EDGE CONDITION EDGE USE AUDITORIO ALFREDO KRAUS

54 LAS PALMAS DOWNTOWN CIUDAD JARDIN VALLE MAESTRO

55 VILLA DISTRICT The garden city was built at the end of the 19th century by English traders who conducted local business. Although it gives an impression of being in a somewhat run down condition, Villa Districe has remained the home of wealthy families of Las Palmas. The district is still known as Garden City, a connotation with is very much in line with the palm-lined streets, it s beautiful parks and blooming gardens.

56 LAS PALMAS DOWNTOWN GARDEN VILLA GARDEN VILLA GARDEN VILLA GARDEN VILLA WEALTHY CIUDAD JARDIN - ZOOM IN

57 HAPPY PEOPLE SAFE CLEAN

58 LAS PALMAS DOWNTOWN ARENALES OFFICE BUILDING

59 ADMINISTRATION The district of Las Arenales dominates the shore coast with its fifteen-storage high buildings. The linearly ordered sky-scrapers house mainly businesses, as well as apartments. Behind the skyline, there are numerous administration buildings.

60 OFFICES PARKING HOUSING SERVICES ARENALES - AVENIDA MARITIMA

61 ADMINISTRATION SKYSCRAPERS

62 GRAN CANARIA NORTH DOWNTOWN VEGUETA & TRIANA CASA DE COLON

63 OLD TOWN Although Triana was build about at the same time as Vegueta, only Vegueta still shows evidence of the old history of Las Palmas. Looking at the old massive stone houses with the monumental woodwork on the front, as well as the bright colours, the scenery sets you back into past colonial times. In contrast to Vegueta, where you only find Restaurants and Bars, Triana offers also a huge commercial zone.

64 GRAN CANARIA NORTH DOWNTOWN VEGUETA - ZOOM IN

65 SIGHTSEEING VEGUETA - PELOTA

66 GRAN CANARIA NORTH DOWNTOWN RESTING VEGUETA

67 SHOPPING TRIANA

68 GRAN CANARIA NORTH DOWNTOWN SAN CRISTOBAL SAN CRISTOBAL - HILL VIEW

69 BAND EXTENSION San Cristobàl is the youngest part of the urbanised band at the shore. Differentiated by the old cemetery of Vegueta, new dwelling blocks raise inbetween generous green spaces, reducing the acute demand of dwelling in the city. At the lower end of San Cristobàl, an extension of the university campus is planned to include additional dwelling complexes and sporting facilities.

70 LAS PALMAS SUBURBANISATION LEISURE LA REHOYAS CITY EXTENSION During the last forty years, the population of Las Palmas has doubled. Due to the fact that the construction zones in the coastal region of Las Palmas have been exhausted during the 1970s, the nearby hills where embraced by the urbanisation. Monofunctional city extensions, especially dwelling settlements, dominate the hills behind Downtown Las Palmas. This area is still growing today with a number of new facilities.

71 SOCIAL HOUSING HILL EXTENSIONS URBANIZACION EL BATAN

72 LAS PALMAS SUBURBANISATION MONOFUNCTIONAL SCHAMANN

73 MONOTONY WHO'S NEXT? SCHAMANN - ZOOM IN

74 LAS PALMAS RURAL SPRAWL UNCONTROLLED GROWTH SAN MATEO SPRAWL Because of the improved infrastructure, the time of moving between the highlands and the city has been reduced significantly. This resulted in an increased investment by the private sector into second homes in the green hills of Las Palmas.

75 SPRAWL SAN MATEO

76 LAS PALMAS IMPLEMENTING CONNECTIONS OVERCOMING THE GAPS BARRANCO GUINIGUADA LINKS The situation today in the suburbanisation makes it clear that, because of rapid and largely uncontrolled growth during the past years, a lack of linking elements has occurred. The space divisions are achieved trough a number of extensions of the infrastructure. Therefore, not only the strong fragmented highlands, as well as the suburbanisation itself are better connected with the city centre.

77 2ST RING INTERCONNECTIONS 1ST RING STAPLES IMPLEMENTED INFRASTRUCTURE

78 LAS PALMAS IMPLEMENTING CONNECTIONS CONNECTING THE SUBURBS GUANARTEME - CALLE FERNANDO GUANARTEME OVERCOMING TOPOGRAPHICAL BARRIERS TUNNEL ALCARAVANERAS - GUANARTEME

79 CONNECTING DOWNTOWN

80 LAS PALMAS IMPLEMENTING CONNECTIONS CONNECTING DOWNTOWN GC 5 GC 5

81 INTERCONNECTING......THE SUBURBS BARRANCOS CONNECTING THE HIGHLANDS

82 CONTENT INTRODUCTION 6 GRAN CANARIA NORTH INBETWEEN AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE 8 BORDERS 10 3 REGIONS GALDAR FIRGAS/ MOYA LAS PALMAS 12 GALDAR CENTRE OF AGRICULTURE 14 FIRGAS/ MOYA TRANSFORMING BARRANCOS 16 LAS PALMAS CENTRE OF TRADE AND SERVICE 18 LAS PALMAS FROM THE COASTLINE TOWARDS THE HIGHLANDS 20 TOPOGRAPHICAL DIVISION 22 PREURBAN LANDSCAPE 24 DEVELOPMENT 26 PORT 30 PUERTO DE LA LUZ 30 EXTENSION 32 PUERTO DEPORTIVO 36 THE BAND 38 ISLETA 42 SANTA CATALINA 46 GUANATERME 50 CIUDAD JARDIN 54 ARENALES 58 VEGUETA AND TRIANA 62 SAN CRISTOBAL 68 BAND EXTENSION 69 CITY EXTENSION 70 SPRAWL 74 LINKS 76 CONTENT 82 SOURCES AND SPECIAL THANK 84

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84 SOURCE BOOKS PGMO Plan General Municipal de Ordenacion de las Palmas de Gran Canaria (S ) PIOG Plan Insular de Ordenacion - Cabildo de Gran Ganaria (Studio Basel) STATISTICS MAPS Studio Basel Plano de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 2005 Landkarte Gran Canaria 2005 PGMO CD 2003 historische Karten: Las Palmas de Gran Canaria a travès de la Cartografia (1588 bis 1899) Cabildo Insular de Gran Canaria 1995 Übersichtskarte Hafen von Las Palmas 2005 (S. 27) INTERVIEW Pepe Sosa, Architekt Pachi Gonzalez (Bravo de Laguna), Immobilien Reda, Migrant Jean, französischer Segler FOTOGRAPHS Gérard Lerner Michèle Ziegler (S , 37) INTERNET

85 WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY HELPING US WITH THIS BOOK. A SPECIAL THANK GOES TO PEPE SOSA AND PACHI GONZALEZ