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micro-plaza Santa Teresita
barrio escalante, san josé, 2010

Barrio Escalante holds three patrimonial buildings: The old customs building, Santa Teresita's Church and the Historic Museum Dr. Rafael Angel Calderón Guardia. These last two, are located approximately a hundred meters away from an area where they meet a branch office of the Costa Rica's Bank, (BCR) the Russian Consulate, The National Dance Workshop ("El Barco") and the Central University.
These buildings generate circulation fluxes of people that lack of a public resting, reading or socializing space nearby.
At the same time, there is –in front of the BCR- a dead space, resulting from the original neighborhood tracing, which is used as an informal parking lot.
It is in this scene that an urban space of 260m2 (853 square feet) is inserted. The triangular 60°/30° architectural plan is structured in a grid of 5,8m x 5,8m (19.03 ft x 19.03 ft) (Measure inspired in the distance rhythm of the existent palm trees right next to the lot)  

This micro-plaza will include 7 red flowering trees, one formal parking lot, 3 social areas, and an artistic landmark (Fronda; a work from José Sancho). This sculpture will be performing a permanent welcoming greet to the visitors of the neighborhood and will work as a visual remark from the east and south. The micro-plaza will virtually communicate with the "Terraza Urbana 1891" (Urban Terrace 1891) and will work as a jointure of the "Paseo La Aduana"; place where the pedestrians will be directed to "El Farolito".
The floor will be compound of monochromatic cobblestones (4"x4"). This with the intention of creating a neutral and sober urban action, where nature, pedestrians, context and casual art exhibits are highlighted.

Project: Microplaza Santa Teresita (Acupuntura Urbana #12-Plan de Renovación Barrio Escalante)
Coordinator: San José City Hall
Sponsor: Neighbor Association of Barrio Escalante (ASVEBESXXI)
Director del Plan: Luis Diego Barahona
Architectural Design: Luis Diego Barahona
Collaborators: Laura Avilés, Karina Vindas, Gillio Francesa and Edgar Quirós
Structural and Electro-Mechanic Design: FSA Ingeniería y Arquitectura
Sculpture: José Sancho