The city of Santiago de Compostela often debates its urban strategy around the duality between the historic center and the urban expansion area. As seemingly autonomous pieces, this relationship presents many challenges – housing, mobility, commerce, public services, tourism, etc. – and there are also diverse strategies being implemented to address them from different fields.

In this reflection, Belvís Park, as an agricultural territory outside the city walls, historically maintained a close link with the monumental city. The development of the city perimetered this large green space, channeling its watercourses and progressively narrowing its accesses. This condition has separated it from its context but has also helped in the conservation of those values that influence environmental quality, values that must continue to be preserved. Currently, in a context in which territorial and urban planning places the environment at the center, the Belvís Park takes on a particularly relevant role from which to promote and strengthen actions that make it possible to articulate spaces and activities in the city around water and vegetation.

What role can Belvís Park play in the city’s urban strategy? Can it serve as a connector, not only of the monumental city and the Ensanche, but also of other neighborhoods and public services? What services and activities can it accommodate without negatively impacting its environmental quality and function? Can Belvis be a catalyst to put green and blue infrastructure at the center of urban strategies?

In this context, Fundación RIA in collaboration with the MOP Foundation, has organised a workshop with the aim of making a positive contribution to urban planning. The workshop aims to work from this green space to consider what role it should play in the future of the city. The intention is to reflect on multiple urban, social, environmental or mobility issues, in which the park, by placing itself at the center of planning, can offer answers.

The exercise will be developed around three key thematic scales: the relationship between the historic city and the Belvís Park; green and blue infrastructure; and park functions and future potentials.

The group of nine participants will be organised into three thematic teams, developing the work from Casa RIA, located in front of Belvís Park itself. The proximity to the local context and the interaction with key agents of the environment will guarantee a deep knowledge of the conditions of the place. This will allow us to formulate reflections and strategic proposals in a precise manner and adapted to the needs of the territory.

Applications will be accepted until 16 January, by sending portfolios and CVs (max. 10 pages) to workshop@fundacionria.org.