Proposal for a Pavilion in Toledo. III Architecture Competition Chair Hispalyt

The proposal is located in the middle of the Historical Center of Toledo, which is also the highest point in the Imperial City.

Traditionally the bell towers were the only places where one could have a “bird view” of a place before the invention of hot-air balloons and planes. our Project wants to make a link between those towers an place a new belvedere perfectly incorporated in the toledan skyline.

The buildings fits in the proposed site and becomes a new public space in the city, as existing churches (many of them are now museums or concert halls) and courtyards. That´s the reason why we have represented covered and uncoverted public spaces in the same texture, understanding them as a whole entity at people´s service.

The square nowadays is a caothic space with a sandy ground and some children playgrpund elements. There is an iron Cross in a top of a stone column which tries to be a hit in the square, but that´s impossible in the existing disposition. The high trees in front of the Jesuit Church are also like a barrier which blocks the view of the whole elevation of the Church.

We consider that the new square must have a central hit as traditional spaces have and also needed to be “civilized” with green and paved areas differenciated from the children playground area.

The new Padre Juan de Mairena Square is organized like the vestibule of our building at the same time that makes an axis with the Jesuits Church. In the intersection of these axes is located a new central element (the old iron Cross on a new brick column). Around both axis there are green bed areas and children playground areas, all upon a new ceramic tiled paved area. The trees are moved also some metres in order to let a better view of the Church and make a virtual “green wall” between the space in fornt of the Church and the space in front in the museum. The old bins will be replaced and the new ones will be buried to make a minimun impact.

The proposal fits into the site and, as its natural shape, is divided in two parts: one is a two storey building with the exhibition hall and the library, and the other is the “belvedere” itself, with all the serving elements (staircase, elevator, baths and stores).

We have chosen a classical proposal in order to keep a continuity into the urban traditional structure. An explicit classical proposal for a town in where were built the first Renaissance structures in Spain. This way we insert a building that is fully integrated within the surrounding ones and respects the patrimonial character of the historicl center.

The idea of choosing architectural orders made in brick links with the long tradition of brick Spanish buildings and the many examples of this kind of bric-orders have been made along history (specially in the mudejar and early renaissance styles). This project is a little homage to them.

The main body of the building is a two storey brick loadbearing construction with four openings in each floor which provide a lot of light inside. The thick of the walls is also used to avoid a high isolation and thermal movements. Inside, two similar spaces with central columns which houses the exhibition hall in the ground floor and the library in the first floor.

The orders used are based in Palladian Tuscan and Doric Orders, adapted and simplified for the use of brick as the principal material. It particularly refers to the work of the Veronesse Renaissance Architect Michele Sanmicheli, in its robust application of the orders, in particular the simplified trigylphs.

The building also echoes the work of Karl Friedrich Schinkel in Germany (first proposal for Neue Wache in Berlin, Tegel Castle, School of Architecture in Berlin).

The “belvedere” is then located in the other part of the plot, with the elevator, staircase and secondary spaces for storing or bathing. This towers link with many other brick towers in Toledo or even the Giralda in Seville. In fact, the final body of the “belvedere” is based on Hernan Ruiz “Bells Body” of that tower.

As a homage to traditional and classical brick architecture this building wants to be so explicit because it shows that nowadays it is still possible to build in a traditional way taking advantage of both historic and modern architecture.