Passeig de mar

Passeig de Mar is the name given to the Camino de Ronda, which traced the coastline from S’Agaró, in 1923 under the guidance of Rafael Masó (a disciple of Gaudí). This is the only architectural coastal path on the Costa Brava, declared a National Cultural Heritage for its history, architecture, and cinematic past. Currently, the Camino de Ronda that goes from Playa de Sant Pol to Cala Sa Conca continues along the so-called GR-92, connecting the main blue flag beaches, such as Platja Gran de Platja d’Aro, Cala Sa Conca de S’Agaró, and Platja de Sant Pol de Sant Feliu de Guíxols.

Both Masó and his successor, Francesc Folguera, concentrated the essence of the Mediterranean landscape in the promenade thanks to a careful combination of materials, the balance between the human scale and the horizon, and respect for the existing vegetation. A path where the earthy colors of the pavement and rocks blend with the pines and tamarinds sculpted by the tramontana, up to the bruise of the sea. The materials were provided by the landscape of the place, the path with gravel that, conveniently draining, has been preserved to this day, and the stone from Banyoles, with a certain tradition in gardening due to its porosity, along with some plantings of broom, aloes, agaves, prickly pears, etc.
Our proposal is articulated with this route, maintaining the essence of the materials used and the balance between the architectural and the natural. The new section of the Paseo del Mar in Platja d’Aro recaptures the spatiality and comfort of the original pine grove, freeing the view towards the sea, framed by some tamarind trees.

The proposal comprises a set of bands parallel to the coastline that articulately explore and define spaces and sequences where the user interacts with the landscape through movement, activities, and perception (whether in the designated terrace areas, under the pine grove, on the promenade, or on the beach). That's why the project uses materiality, geometry, and phenomenology as three basic design tools. The materials with a natural base and low carbon footprint, the more human proportion, and the geometry of its elements evoke Masó's project, while inviting us to a more choreographic and phenomenological experience with the sea. The tones of the materials used: toasted with orange and even gray hues, blend the support of the Promenade with the streets of the city and the beach sand, contrasting with the greens of the pine forest.

Geometry is, therefore, the tool used to generate and articulate the set of spaces that connect the city with the sea. In this way, the perpendicular streets connect through openings that, like square-crossings, bring the promenade closer to the city, inviting the user to enter the beach through the wooden walkways. The size of these squares aligns with the urban fabric, and those located at the ends and in continuity with Avenida Costa Brava are larger. These strategies bring the flow of pedestrians from Avenida de S’Agaró towards the sea. At the end of the intervention, it is once again geometry that intertwines a set of spaces where the materiality of the Promenade merges with the surroundings. At the access from Travesía Cavall Bernat, the Promenade folds, creating a multipurpose space intended for a viewpoint, bleachers, or solarium, allowing enjoyment of shows and activities taking place on the beach and the sunset. Thus, the beginning of the Camino de Ronda from Platja d’Aro to Sant Antoni de Calonge is formalized, highlighting the scenic importance of Cavall Bernat. At the end linked to the mouth of the Ridaura, the Promenade bends this time to lead into a park equipped with sports courts, calisthenics, and petanque, under the naturalized pine forest that has large areas for staying. The small existing building is set back from the line of the Promenade, allowing the wooden walkway to define a continuous path protected by a dune among the pines. In this way, a naturalized "gate" is created in the Pineda de Riuet, extending the Promenade beyond the river.