Plaza de las Garantías Sociales, public square

Overview

The Plaza de las Garantías Sociales is reimagined as a continuous public space in the civic centre of San José, freeing up the block and connecting it more clearly with its perimeter. The project relates directly to the Teatro Nacional, the Edificio de las Señoritas, the Mercado Nacional de Artesanías and the Museo del Oro Precolombino, an ensemble that brings together architecture, culture and memory. The CCSS and the Museo del Oro are recognised as key works of Costa Rican brutalism, with an institutional presence that defines the character of the area.

A broad horizontal timber roof follows the existing topography and provides continuous shade from rain and sun. Its geometry refers to the interior roof of the Museo del Oro and to Costa Rican craft culture. The roof frames the Edificio de las Señoritas and balances by contrast the cylindrical stair tower of the CCSS. The red paver surface relates to the roofs of the Teatro Nacional and reinforces the visual continuity of the ensemble.

The project widens sidewalks, adds covered and lit bus stops, includes play areas and defines a bay for tour buses. The original railings are reinterpreted as benches made of cylindrical tubes, which preserve urban memory through everyday use. The plaza hosts daily traffic, rest and cultural expression in the centre of San José.