A mosaic building up the three dimensions

At the heart of the Zorrotzaurre Plan, an elegant system of buildings allows the integration of the skyline and public land.

These buildings are like a group of “tiles”, each of more than 1,000m2 and they allow the ground formation to respond to the curve of the river, the street network and the constant change in the orientation of the buildings from upstream to downstream. In this way, the “tiles” bring global unity to the Plan whilst allowing differentiation between districts and groups of buildings. The level of the “tiles” defines the critical level of flood defences as well as creating spaces for underground car parks.

By linking this critical level to the development of groups of buildings, the riverside-walk can drop to the normal level of the river, allowing a closer relationship between people and the water. Meanwhile, on the platforms, the buildings are arranged perpendicularly to the axis of the river, opening up the buildings, so that the walks and the views, may be enjoyed by all.

The rich variety of public and private spaces that can be seen in the Plan is achieved by the subtle differentiation of levels, which favours an easy balance between private requirements and the pleasures of community life.