Daniel R. Capitanachi Martí.
recently at the invitation of the University of Guadalajara Ochoa attended the pearl on a visiting basis. Since the working sessions were only evening, I had the opportunity to wander through the historic center and visit many of its public rooms, some dilapidated and neglected, but most squeaky clean, recently refurbished, comfortable furniture stores for background music and vast presence of water as a decorative element, means to cool the microclimate and relaxing balm for the spirit.
As in all cities, the best way to see how daily life is the talk with their users, both pedestrians and residents. The talk in public places came in a forced and occurred in this case, almost constant, the aesthetics of the context around us.
And although opinions were varied, all agreed that it was the center of a space satisfying to the fast-paced life of the city. Some commented:
much money was spent on remodeling by suppressing the response to pressing social problems!,
authority has finally done something, but still not enough to revamp the public spaces as a means to attract tourism!,
introduced architectural and urban vision that had little to do in a city of colonial foundation!
or, in opposition to modernity in the proposal lacked enablement of public space facing the XXI Century!
As always, the opinions are varied and reflect only the position of the person who issues, and my own, to build all heard, I concluded that collective pride was palpable on the undeniable beauty of that space, which preserves the same high part of the history of the founding of the city.
is Guadalajara's historic center a lively place, day and night. It corresponds to what the books describe the living spaces should be: cohesive population, service providers, places of assembly and expression arts scene, more accessible to all, regardless of age, gender or economic status. Safe space, a lot, maybe too much vigilance and above all, a showcase of intense economic, political and social.
In particular caught my attention to the austere design of the plaza in front of Cabañas Hospice access. Guided by the interest to remember the magnificent murals of José Clemente Orozco, literlamente I found her and a number of strange figures emerged from a lavish and meticulous artistic imagination.
is a set of chairs designed by a -local sculptor Alejandro Colunga, "that serve as furniture usable by the passerby, tired to walk the long corridor leading from the Cathedral to the Hospice, seeks a seat. Or perhaps pompously serve as urban sculptures, authentic pieces of art with a high symbolic and detail, ready there for those who only choose to admire and, being around him, searching the triggers bony hands or shoes that serve livelihood. There are also those who would guess the operator or photographed to death, to the end, almost shyly, a room or vanity, take a picture, with, or above them.
Art-object like this is called the trend, and although he had heard of the term, I had never felt so perfectly bounded in reality, or at least as lived.
Sitting right there on the special chairs, irreverent and almost as a sinner it occupies utilitarian works of art, I was reminded about the importance of beauty in the city. The concern of Camilo Sitte on the subject and the ideas expressed in his work Construction cities according to artistic principles in the late nineteenth century. From his remark on the square as urban aesthetic center, public space par excellence and open stage for architectural contemplation.
I lived there, in front of the Hospice, the importance of the plaza as a public space as if in the Renaissance or Baroque Rome, in expectation of the Capitol or Plaza de San Pedro, and rediscover the meaning and splendor of a plaza near empty, this time crowned sides by the lofty work of art-object-Colunga.
As an architect, I recognized the value added that a city hall building to provide a perspective, as a person, simple walker, I welcomed the chance to find a nice place, quiet and vibrant at the same time allowing the contemplation of the city convenient, architecture, customs and people.
Over the days and at the opportunity to write, I caught the reflection that addresses the importance of the Old City. We strive to believe that architects are the only makers - or at least the most important-of the urban. We work most of the time for the sake of modernity and avant-garde, for design efficiency. We worry about the complexity of the relations of the city and its surroundings and we talked a lot about sustainability, without necessarily knowing what we mean exactly, or even worse, not knowing what to do to achieve it.
In my case, I repeat almost daily on the rules relating to the big city on the rights and obligations of citizenship with respect to the equitable access to urban space and meditate little about how to enjoy it.
But, to behave as individuals, to escape our training, involuntary, invariably, at least in my case, the city is small and narrow streets, the old architecture, the scale of man-made, of course easy and simple guidance, which actually makes me feel part of it, which I find comfortable and pleasant.
Guadalajara, of course, has a great deal of currency in other sectors. The Guild architecture is talks of the enormous value of projects submitted to the Guggenheim Foundation to enable construction of a new museum, or high technology that builds the new stadium in foot ball. On the way to the University observes the stroke differential road lanes for public transport and private emulating Brazilian cities, from a distance, the towers are residential, financial and business that now boasts the city. Clearly the economic power manifested in large doses of modernity ... Or postmodernity?, Making their way on behalf of a necessary update, claimed by economic globalization and the speed of life imposed by the information society. First
it and without much logic, I still prefer the public space concentrated in the historical center, in the old city. Given the generous invitation to meet the new-status-progress, I still like the call of the past, perhaps because it, at least in the urban, was much more friendly, beautiful and human. From contemporary surrealism I'll take the chairs and armchairs, with the library of Hospice and cafecín stay next to the Teatro Degollado.
Serve this text to greet Daniel González Pérez Romero Mayte and Bourzac, friends and students doctorate located in those beautiful lands to thank your attention and the opportunity to enjoy a rich academic and a pleasant stay and memorable visit.
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