The area proposed for the first project of this first fourth-month period is, at the very least, an archaeologically loaded place. It is in fact surrounded by many historical landmarks and has some exceptional topographic features, such as the notably sloped hill where the archaeological ensemble is located in contrast to the the flatness of the surroundings or the presence of the Guadiana river nearby. Let's see the main elements that compose the environment of the plot.
The Theater
Recently discovered, the Roman Theater in Medellín (Metellium) is presumably one of the most important archaeological sites in Spain. Built in the late republican era and buried for a long time, it has been undergoing restoration since 2007. This has brought on life to the town, as a summer festival has been held this year in the theater.
The theater is based on the Vitrubius model. The grandstands (gradas, cávea) have been restored to an excellent condition, but unfortunately parts of the surrounding wall are in a bad condition nowadays. The walls and domes that form the basic structure of the theater are made of mortar and masonry (opus incertum), whereas the lower grandstands, the pulpitum and the orchestra are made of granite blocks (opus quadratum) and cipollino marble (opus sectile).
It is without doubts one of the main elements to be respected in this project. Special care should be taken in order to avoid damaging archeological heritage surrounding the theater area. Therefore, the impact of the proposal on the ground should be carefully studied, and so, light, detachable foundations and structures may turn out to be more useful than others.
 |
| Panoramic view of the Theater |
The Castle
Built in the 14th Century, destroyed and later rebuilt, this fortress stands on top the aforementioned hill and has a major role in sketching the skyline of the town and nearby environment. It is visible from all angles and from a very long distance.
It is an almond-shaped, wall-enclosed area subdivided in two open spaces, with two rectangular towers and two bastions cardinally oriented, four doors and the ruined Santa María del Castillo church inside.
The Churches
Apart from the ruined church inside the castle, we can find:
- The Church of Santiago (13th-17th Ct), founded over the podium of a roman temple and located just beside the theater. It serves as a provisional museum for the archaeological foundings until a future anastylosis (restoration technique that places the archaeological pieces on their original position, like a puzzle) is made possible (budget limitations).
It has an important presence in the area due to its proximity to both the roman theater and the castle. Consequently, it generates quite a prominent architectural tension and should be taken into account while developing the project.
- The Church of San Martín (13th Ct), baptism place for Hernán Cortés. Separated from the rest of the complex and closer to the town, serves as an entrance and reference point for the archeological site.
.JPG) |
| Church of Santiago viewed from the Roman Theater |
 |
| Church of San Martín viewed from the street |
The Program
The exercise aims to create two pavilions, joined or separated:
- Welcoming pavilion to work as a reception for visitors and as a starting point for an itinerary throughout the archeological complex. It should complement the current antiquarium at the Church of Santiago and also offer some space for relaxing and beholding the sights.
- Bar / Restaurant...........................175m2
- Rest Area....................................50m2
- Warehouse..................................10m2
- Toilets.........................................20m2
- Pavilion for the Archaeologists as a workshop shed, including the necessary working areas for the archaeologists. It should also be interesting to offer some service to the visitors, such as an exposition room (different media regarding completed or in-progress work) or some space considered interesting for the ensemble.
- Exterior Working Area................100m2
- Interior Working Area.................100m2
- Photo and Drawing Area.............50m2
- Restoration Area.........................75m2
- Office and Meeting Room...........50m2
- Warehouse.................................50m2
- Toilet and Dressing Room...........50m2
- Archaeologists' house/s...............--m2
- Related Area: Platform, Porticos.........200m2
The Analysis of the Plot
Taking into account all the gathered written, graphical and additional information, some strategies should be followed in order to efficiently fulfill the needs of the project without overlooking basic aspects about the location.
- Conclusions
- Archaeological soil must be respected.
- Relationship between the Church of San Martín and the rest of the ensemble is not entirely clear, quite weak.
- Surrounding landmarks (Castle, Churches, Theater) must be respected, even highlighted if possible.
- Slope is considerably steep. Itineraries should be kept as easy and user-friendly as possible. Avoid labyrinthic, exhausting paths.
- Sights are exceptional. Should be highlighted if possible.
- Connection between Theater and Working Areas should be easy.
- As a provisional ensemble subject to future rearrangement or even demolition, project should be planned in a flexible, detachable way (foundations, structure, façade...).
- Minimum privacity should be ensured for the Working Areas so as to let the archaeologists work without bother.
- Material choice is an important matter. Harmony with the existing materials and textures should be respected.
- Space in front of the Church of Santiago serves as a good reference point.
- Strategies
- Light, detachable systems (foundations, structure, façades, partitions...) will be used to optimize assembly time, enable program rearrangements and respect the archaeological soil.
- Wooden finishes to respect surrounding materials and textures.
- Simple geometric forms: Visually respectful, easy to organize and rearrange.
- Welcoming pavilion close to the Theater and the Church of Santiago as a meeting, reference point and to offer free space to rest and hang around.
.jpg)
.JPG)