Co-autori

Ana-Maria Branea

Location:

Slatina, Romania

Client:

Primaria municipiului Slatina

Text de prezentare a lucrării:

Before attempting to propose a city gate solution the authors deemed it necessary to define what a city limit is in the chaotic context of out of control suburban growth. For the given location the best solution proved to be the garden city type limit, namely a green belt. As the city already has a natural border to the west, Olt River, the authors proposed a linear green space to unify all green spaces around Slatina. A positive limit is thus created, becoming a linear park around the city, bordering it and generating leisure spaces while at the same time helping to clean its air and trapping suspended particles. The green belt thus created can house localized sporting and leisure activities, such as sport fields areas, playgrounds, fishing spots, activities that require al larger area, swimming, rowing, and even the ones that span its entire surface, jogging, cycling, trekking, ski font. The creation of such an urban park improves the quality of life, creates activity notes, increases land value, protects the city against wind, pollution and acts as its green lung. The concept is based on a reinterpretation of Slatina’s limits, suggested by the natural border that is Olt River and its bridge effectively acting as the region’s gate. By continuing the natural limit and synthetizing the essence of the bridge as a gate the authors propose a harmonious conjunction of natural context and historical cultural identity. The two gates reach an antithetic balance, one being an addition to a natural element, the bridge, while the other is materialized through the subtraction from one, the green belt. The three section repetition emphasizes the journey as opposed to the limit, while by coating the entire structure in greenery its integration in the surrounding environment is achieved and a permanent renewal of urban identity is suggested. The use of a mixture of ivy (Hedera Helix) and Canadian ivy (parthenocissus quinquefolia) accentuates the tunnel concept of the bridge as a connection device transporting the traveller to a different world. During the winters, the unveiling of the metal structure allows for an annual throwback the bridge’s iconic imagery.