Microplaza La Primavera

Overview

Microplaza La Primavera occupies a disused piece of street at the intersection of Avenida Central and Calle 21, in Barrio La California. Two hundred meters away, the Atlantic Railway Station closes the axis. Nearby are the Parque Nacional, the Legislative Assembly, the National Library, the MADC and Barrio Escalante. The space responds to this density of uses with a simple program of spherical benches, trees and lighting, designed for meeting, resting and waiting for transit.

The project starts from a real problem, a neighborhood with intense nightlife and a lack of public safety. The small plaza activates the space with presence, light and places to stay. Its intense use, day and night, for passing through and for lingering, confirms that well designed public space contributes to safety.

At the center of the composition, Diente de León, Símbolo de Bondad (Dandelion, Symbol of Kindness), a sculpture by Russian artist Gregory Pototsky, gives the space its identity. The plaza is part of the Barrio La California Renewal Plan.