URBAN LANDSCAPE
Corredor No-Motorizado
San Juan, Puerto Rico
The Corredor de Transporte No Motorizado (Non-Motorized Transportation Corridor) in San Juan Puerto Rico is a project for the National Park Services office in Puerto Rico. The construction of this corridor is meant as a pedestrian and bicycle-friendly connection between the Parque Luis Muñoz Rivera, the Laguna del Condado, the Distrito de Convenciones (Convention Center District), the Baldorioty de Castro Boulevard and the Parque Central of San Juan. It is approximately 1.5 miles long.
The strategy was to build a corridor using “Green” infrastructure that runs from the wetlands and reaches the urban landscape at the Parque Luis Muñoz Rivera. This corridor is meant as a circuit defined by aromas and paths designed to heighten the senses of those who travel through it by foot or by bicycle. This green infrastructure or vertebrae will showcase a transition from the wetland system to the high ground that reaches the city, taking into account walkways and a bicycle lane that begins at Asford Avenue towards the East side of the San Antonio Bridge crossing the Ponce de León Avenue intersection, continuing via the old Puerto Rico Railway Bridge heading South-bound entering the bridge sidewalk. The Corridor continues along the East side of the Sanjuanera Statue headed towards the Convention Center District entering the Baldorioty de Castro Boulevard islet; crosses the Fernandez Juncos Avenue; heads South crossing the Isla Grande Promenae; continues further South crossing the Convention Center Boulevard; keeps bordering the Baldorioty de Castro Boulvard headed East under the AC-100209 Project for the Road Authority of Puerto Rico. Continuing East, it crosses Refugio Street, the street headed towards Pier 16, crosses Central street continuing on the side of PR-16 South headed towards the East passing in front of the Abarca building and continuing East crossing Sin Nombre street. The Corridor continues to border PR-16 South on the Western side of the Muñoz Rivera Expressway, crosses Sin Nombre Street towards the East crossing La Paz street until Parque Central is reached on the Western side.
The construction of the project has no major impact in the area with minimal soil movement. The current irrigation system will be replaced, luminaries, in compliance with the Dark Sky Association to prevent light contamination, will be relocated to areas that need such an intervention. The entire Corridor will be replanted as part of the “Green” infrastructure strategy covering areas from the wetlands to the Parque Luis Muñoz Rivera. Lighting using photovoltaic cells will be installed in order to comply with the Política Pública Energética Sostenible (Sustainable Energy Public Policy).
Paseo Tablado
Salinas, Puerto Rico
The project is located in La Playa sector of the Salinas municipality, a mixed suburban area where businesses, restaurants and single family homes are predominant.The proposed location begins in an area called “La Curvita” (The Little Curve) which extends from the public plaza and ends at Ladis, the local restaurant and the fishing pier.
The area poses several problems:
1. A lack of connection to the coast
2. Obstructed views by randomly constructed buildings.
3. An eroded and abandoned coastline
4. Deteriorated Mangrove swamps and Thallasia meadows
The strategic approach to the project was to build a boardwalk that serves as a link between the community and the surrounding ocean. The proposed elevated boardwalk connects the existing public spaces along the coastline.
The project contains an access platform that projects out towards the coast creating the first interaction with the ocean. Extending from this platform begins a ramp that establishes a link with the elevated promenade. This proposed promenade traces the coastline from East to West reaching the existing public plaza, where a platform extends over the ocean creating a balcony and a new dock for the regional water transportation boats. The plaza allows access to the fishing dock through a ramp that connects the promenade to the beach.
The project was designed using concrete piles with a wooden deck y light wooden hand rails with tension cables running throughout. Vertical lighting has been placed rhythmically throughout the space to contrast the horizontal landscape. At night, they serve as skylights that trace the coastline. In addition to the construction part of the project, rehabilitation of the eroded coastline was proposed using a rip rap system and the sowing of mangroves along the coast.