|
Arquitectura, diseño y urbanismo |
|
|
The Civic Square at the Malecon 2000 Project inaugurated in October 9, 1999, expands itself between 10 de Agosto street in the South and P. Ycaza street in the North, has a total area of 24,503.61 m2., 13,654.00 m2 of which correspond to the existing area and 10.849,20 m2. were taken from the Guayas River by means of a reinforced-concrete slab on top of piles of the same material.
Two gates provided with control and surveillance allow the access to this sector, one located on 9 de Octubre Ave and the other one on 10 de Agosto street, both of them have bus shelters and pedestrian crossings with traffic-light access. The whole Simon Bolivar Ave perimeter is walled by a metallic fence that provides it with the corresponding safety.
The Rotunda and Moorish Tower, existing monuments, have been enhanced and given a value-added by a scenic setting, also to keep up the spirit of “El Paseo de las Colonias” (The Colonies Walkway), the existent sculptures have been kept providing them with new foundations according to their importance.
Fulfilling Olmedo’s command as stated in the Government Board’s Ordinance published in the Patriot on October 13, 1821, which in its second article said: “To perpetuate the memory of this big day, , a column will be erected at the quay of the city and in the pedestal it will bear this inscription: Dawn of October 9, 1820"; this monument has been constructed in front of the main axis of the Municipal Building. The column is made of translucent marble - and illuminated from within - it emerges from a pond of water surrounded by the original perrons of the Old Quay Market, remembering this way the existent environment in the Illustrious Patriot's times.
In the central part of the Sector - between the Naval Club and the Guayaquil Yacht Club - the Gallery of Illustrious Guayaquileños is located as a homage to all those citizens, born in the Province of the Guayas, who have contributed from its diverse action fields to enlarge the Ecuadorian nation. Next to this space agoras have been foreseen dedicated to cultural representations such as music, dances and outdoor theater.
Four big allusive sculptures to the four elements of the nature define the riverside border; two of them are miradors that allow visitors to have a unique view of the city and its surroundings.
The Naval Club as well as the Yacht Club, institutions settled down in the area, have been incorporated to the project respecting their access and privacy necessities; to achieve a continuous and unrestricted pedestrian circulation on the Pier two bridges that pass before their institutional headquarters have been designed allowing them this way to maintain their bond with the River. Flanking these two bridges we find the big sculptures mentioned in the previous paragraph.
As additional services, the Sector has a roofed parking with capacity for 121 vehicles, next to which the security, toilet and first aid and emergency attention areas are located.
Special care has been given to the green areas, the existent trees have been subjected to a care and maintenance process and in the extended area diverse gardeners with domestic native species are located.
A group of pergolas allows the visitors to circulate protected from the sun and the rain in favorable spaces for sightseeing and resting.
The public illumination is of three types: one that provides enough general
illumination for the pedestrians, another that accentuates the points of interest,
monuments, tress, stairways, signs, etc. and; finally one that enhances the
border of the pier and the River.