Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

Park Cuchillitos de Tristán

Matter is a source of inspiration, especially when topography turns into the matter one uses directly for his work. Park Cuchillitos has a particular topography with differences going up to 30 m in its most difficult points and opens over the City of Santa Cruz with the image of the Mountain Anaga and the Atlantic as the main elements of the view. There was used a plastiline model for the project which needed much more details models during the works given the difficult character of the area: different heights, rocky ground, caves.

The Park has its maximum lengths on the East-West axis. Just after entering the Park one can find an wide grass area with the aspect of a green amphitheater (aprox 3000 m2); this is an area for playing, resting or meditation. Afterwards there are also other areas with specific uses: playground for children, area where old people can do exercise, skate area and the pathways with a design which invites you to give a long walk which ends up with a big terrace where the city and the overall of the park can be seen. The topography of the area determined the design of the pathways which try to lower the differences of the ground and make easier the walk. There are only few benches; these are sculpted in stone; still, the big rocks which limit the different volumes and areas inside the Park have sometimes and can be used as benches.

Working with models gives to the architect the opportunity to approximate properly to the project but once the project begins to be constructed there are always surprises which can determine new decisions and dramatic changes. From this point of view the Park had an important rate of unpredictability; once the earth was removed, some natural caves were discovered under the rocky ground. This new factor produced new uses and areas inside the Park; the caves were integrated to the project using specific plants for dark and humid areas and making possible to be visited.

The Park uses flora from the Canarian Islands adapted to arid climate so that the watering can be minimal. On the other hand the plants, trees and flowers were chosen so that there are green areas during the whole year while flowers were mixed in function of the colors and the flavors. For instance, the fence all around the Park, made of iron bars used normally for the foundations is covered with roses of 2 colors and jasmine which turns it into an aromatic fence which wants to strike and attract the visitor with its rough appearance and then to welcome him with the flavors of the flowers going up and around the fence.

Architect: Fernando Menis

Architect assistant: Bruno Rodriguez

Quantity surveyeros: Andrés Pedreño, Rafael Hernández
Biologist: Arnoldo Santos
Engeneers: Ojellon Ingenieros
Milian Associats
Nueva Terrain SL

Europaconcorsi Beta

Park Cuchillitos de Tristán