Previous state

The demolition of the former building of El Pueblo Gallego, a historic newspaper that was closed down in 1979, opened up an unexpected space in the Casco Vello (Old City) of Vigo. Located next to the strange sculpture “O Sireno” (The Merman), which marks the nerve centre of the city, it is also surrounded by a very diverse range of buildings of different heights and periods, notable amongst which is the modernist, ostentatious and eclectic, “Simeon” department store dating from the beginning of the twentieth century. However, despite its central position, the richness of its setting and the confluence of several small streets spreading out from the empty space and thus promising the appearance of a square, the site remained mute, closed in by an opaque wall and haphazardly parked cars.

Description

The main facade of the building and the square which now acts as its vestibular space have been conceived as a coherent, communicating dihedral. The former is covered with a translucent, ventilated membrane that reinterprets the tradition of the mansard in contemporary terms. Protection from the sun provided by this second skin means that the facade can be open to the square by means of large glass surfaces, even though it faces south. In addition, this combination of translucence and depth means that the appearance of the facade varies greatly in keeping with weather and light conditions. If, by day, it filters out the spaces behind it, appearing as a finish of independent composition, at night it dissolves to give a hazy impression of these spaces, filling the square with their light so that the effect is similar to that of a paper lantern.

The square, in turn, looks towards the building. A drop of more than three metres, imposed by topography of the streets around the perimeter, has provided an excuse for folding down the flat concrete surface in order to form a small amphitheatre that embraces the main entrance to the Association. Its tiers and steps invite people to sit down and the space doubles as a venue for public functions, for example concerts or plays. Lights have been incrusted into the vertical plane of the steps and these illuminate both the ground and the facade. The concrete paving has been given a variety of finishes in order to define different spaces. In some of these areas, there are incrustations of pieces of slate and ashlars, which were recovered from the remains of the old newspaper building.

Here and there, whether the ground is flat or forms tiers or ramps, there are circular earth-filled garden plots that interrupt the spread of the concrete. In each of these is a vertical metal pole that is joined to others by means of horizontal crossbars, also made of metal. The resulting framed structure not only acts as a support for lighting but also for a green roof consisting of wisteria climbing from the garden plots. These deciduous vines, which provide shade in summer, let the sun through in winter and flower in spring, give great variety to the square as the seasons change. There are also other plants sharing the garden plots, for example the perennial grass miscanthus and liriope plants, together with the ornamental flowering shrub, red osier dogwood.