Plaza Cataño - Oceanside Public Space
Located in a historical town known for its coastal activity, Cataño has always been a hub for sea trading and industrial programs. The mayor was seeking to make improvements to the main public spaces and the firm wanted to propose a low-cost revitalization project that included the town center and other points of interest.
As part of this proposal, I was tasked with leading the design of the plaza, making sure that the existing conditions are addressed in a sensible way - the plaza should establish more connection to the seafront area, bringing more pedestrian circulation and reducing the presence of cars. Another important aspect was the use of viable vegetation for tropical coastal climate to provide spaces of natural shade during the day.
The proposal was also leveraged with cost estimates to maintain the project under budget, but also allowing the option to phase it in such a way that it maintains coherency throughout its stages. Thus, the design places heavy focus on floor pattern and using local vegetation, with the only truly built structures being the kiosks which would generate commercial activity.
The graphic of the plaza allows the inclusion of color, deliberate pockets of vegetation, and tying the seafront to the town center. A softer plaza is also added which would bring down the scale of the space and create a more intimate experience, tying the adjacent areas such as the church and the existing establishments. The project was received very well by the mayor who called for proposals.