Given the impossibility of planting trees or building deep foundations due to the presence of the Metro, Cercanías commuter lines and other subway services, a surface-level solution that respects the urban environment was sought:
An effective, reversible awning system to provide shade to the thousands of people who pass through Madrid’s iconic square every day. To achieve this Azvi, in partnership with Licuas in the Madrid Centro joint venture, carried out the following:
- Anchoring in the existing granite benches::
🔹Each existing bench was emptied and subsequently reinforced with high-density steel, box-type structures.
🔹Steel plates were inserted as ballast, increasing the weight without compromising ground stability. - Custom metal foundations:
🔹 The metal foundations, weighing more than 90 tonnes, were assembled ‘in situ’ using structural welding, ensuring the mechanical integrity of the set of posts and awnings, as well as their secure anchoring against possible gusts of wind.
🔹 Each post was secured with custom-designed anchor plates tailored to its location, guaranteeing alignment, uniform height and correct orientation in the square. - Final integration with the surroundings:
🔹The granite benches were returned to their original position, fully integrated with the new foundations.
This project required a very high degree of precision and coordination, not only because of the geometric and structural uniqueness of each bench, with the custom design and manufacture of each element, but also due to the technical complexity posed by the presence of multiple subway infrastructures located at a shallow depth under the pavement.
