Santa Cruz Park is designed to meet the diverse needs and lifestyles of contemporary society. It was developed through a collaborative, inclusive, transparent, and equitable process using an anonymous ideas competition, in partnership with the Seville College of Architects (COAS) and funded by the European Solidarity Funds EDUSI.
.
The park serves as an environmentally friendly and inclusive space that promotes equality and social connections, strengthening the bond between residents and their city. It is an open, flexible, and barrier-free environment that accommodates both collective gatherings and individual experiences. The design guides visitors from the urban landscape into the park, transitioning them from the "artificial" to the "natural," and from work to leisure and relaxation.
.
Two flared urban plazas function as entry points to the park, where paths narrow and intertwine, encouraging visitors to explore at a leisurely pace. The existing evergreen trees of the old fairgrounds have been preserved, and the grid pattern has been enhanced with deciduous trees, making the original layout of the fair visible in winter. The new trees are grouped by species to encourage simultaneous flowering.
.
The park includes a sustainable drainage system with six infiltration wells (SUDs) that allow water to seep into the ground, replenishing natural aquifers. It utilizes an existing well beneath the park for irrigation, focusing on the ground cover that requires the most water. This system creates a cool, shaded, and self-sufficient climate refuge.
