Car park Plaza Vázquez de Mella | Teresa Sapey + Partners

Space can be more than pure function and, in this case, parking can turn into the attraction hub and characteristic of the neighbourhood of Chueca. The city is a place of contradiction and this neighbourhood, characterised by nightlife, is a hanging out spot for its daylight inhabitants.

The parking must be recognised within the urban scale and must possess a strong physiognomic image. As a matter of fact, the access is imprinted since the very entrance by a sculptural object that functions as a connector between the pedestrian access to the square and, at the same time, represents the fulcra within the larger urban context.

This sculptural object is cut into a curvy and metal lace shape, red on its inner face and silver on its outer one and, rising from the pavement, it mimics the lace for the fight against HIV. Monochrome here is used both as a tribute and also as a symbol of identity in the neighbood. The structure provides the locals with a bench to sit on; it stands as the signal to the parking; and, it embodies the historical icon of the area. This way, the parking opens up to the city allowing for natural lighting to penetrate the underground space and makes it less subterranean, gloomy, scary and uncomfortable.

Only by using colour and light, resistant and easy to maintain materials, this space is transformed into a pleasant place. As it is a public parking, the concept of Eros – modern, contemporary, anonymous and subtle, not only needs to be clear for everyone, but it also attempts to encourage people to engage. A classical Eros,
almost literary, who elegantly cites the renowned sentence from Dante Alighieri’s Chant V of the Hell in the Divina Commedia ‘Love that exempts no one loved from loving in return, seized me for the charm of this man so firmly, that as you see it does not yet leave me.’ This text patches the black walls of the parking and it is made of light: it brightens up the place, it indicates the routes and it entertains the user whilst in such space. Visual osmosis through writing, culture for all, images of pure kisses, shared kisses, anonymous, human, caring, sweet, that dissolve the lonely feeling that accompanies the modern urban experience. An open and easy to use space that has, for example, shared toilets, which highlight the concept of secure, functional and even smiley public space.