© Pau Ardèvol . Published on July 30, 2012.

In 1961, on the eastern tip of Iberia Peninsula, Cap de Creus cape, one the windiest and most northern exposed corner of our geography, Club Med constructed a privative holiday village with 430 buildings to receive around 900 visitors 3 months a year. The urbanization project it is considered as one of the most notorious examples of modern movement settlement on the Mediterranean coast. With the advent of democracy and the rise of ecological consciousness, Cap de Creus was declared Natural Park in 1998. The cape, including Club Med surroundings, was classed with the highest figure of land protection because its outstanding geological and botanical values. In summer 2003 Club Med ceased activity.

© Pau Ardèvol . Published on July 30, 2012.

In the period, 2008-10, Club Med has been ‘deconstructed’, its ecological dynamics revived and a network of paths and viewpoints as been ‘remade’ for its rediscovery, becoming Mediterranean coast biggest restoration project ever. The work distills and enhances the consubstantial values of the site, the diversity of geological formations, the harshness and nakedness of the rock outcrops, the specialization of native vegetation, the wind and the sea magnificence. Five actions are contemplated in the restoration project:

© Pau Ardèvol . Published on July 30, 2012.

1. Removal of Invasive Exotic Flora (IEF), Carpobrotus edulis
and other 10 species on a surface of 90 ha. IEF once planted in the Club scattered around displacing specialized maritime rocky native communities of EU protected flora.

© Pau Ardèvol . Published on July 30, 2012.

2. Selective deconstruction of 430 buildings, equivalent of 1.2 ha of edification and 6ha of urbanization.

© Pau Ardèvol . Published on July 30, 2012.

3. Management & recycling of 100% of construction waste, 45.000 m3, reusing ‘in situ’ local stone for landfills, and transporting ceramic materials outside for civil works.

© Martí Franch. Published on July 30, 2012.

4. Ecosystem dynamics revival, remaking the site’s topography and drainage systems, to reestablish the original sediment flows and exchanges between land and sea.

© Esteve Bosch. Published on July 30, 2012.

5. Discovery & social valorization. Including 3 main interventions:
Hierarchical path system recycling existing paths and promoting circular routes.
Main path (2km) structuring the site’s discovery, it reuses the existing main road and reduces its section from 7-4 m to 3.5 m while homogenizes paving treatment with asphalt. At the beach, 250m are newly redone to recover the beach full dimension, once quartered by the former road system.
Secondary paths, out of concrete, leading to the main viewpoints
Tertiary paths, ‘without firm, out of low disperse railings, which leads to the secondary network of viewpoint and sensitive areas.
Network of viewpoints to enhance best panoramas.
Animal-rock identification. Traditionally fishermen’s and kids had identified rock formations with animal names for its orientation, Dalí did too. The project, proposing a game of perception constructs a sort of ‘lecterns’ outlining the ‘animal-rocks’ silhouette

© Martí Franch. Published on July 30, 2012.

Credits:
Construction companies:
Tragsa (deconstruction)
Control Demeter and Massachs Excavacions S.L.U. (deconstruction, waste management, Restoration and re-urbanization)
Jardinería Sant Narcís (invasive exotic flora extraction)
Serralleria Ferran Collel (viewpoints, totems, terciary path, animal rock identification)

© Martí Franch. Published on July 30, 2012.

© EMF landscape architects . Published on July 30, 2012.

Initial state

© Martí Franch. Published on July 30, 2012.

Initial state

© Martí Franch. Published on July 30, 2012.

Final state

© Martí Franch. Published on July 30, 2012.

Final state

© Martí Franch. Published on July 30, 2012.

Platja desde Aguila

© Martí Franch. Published on July 30, 2012.

Platja desde Pamperris

© Martí Franch. Published on July 30, 2012.