Located in the heart of San Javier, the 31,949-square-meter Almansa Park is the result of an idea competition organized with the Murcia Institute of Architects (COAMU). The project carried out by Emac Arquitectura – Miguel Martínez Castillejo and Pau Batalla Soriano – for this urban space benefited from citizen participation and European aid.

The scheme fragmented the existing civic center, eliminated architectural barriers, incorporated the open-air auditorium, and added a theater, expanding the facility’s year-round cultural offer, not to mention adapted play areas, a skate park, and a track for a regional bowling-like sport called bolos cartageneros.

The boundaries between the park and the urban environment are diluted in smooth transitions. To this end, the fencing is removed from the perimeter, resulting in spaces that dilate and contract, inducing encounters. Paving, trees, and fences are combined and superimposed to blur edges. Topsoil, colored asphalt, concrete benches, and galvanized steel furniture are used. The trees are left to stand and complemented with native species, creating a perimeter of perennial vegetation and an inner space with deciduous trees.

In addition, the energy efficiency of the refurbished buildings has been enhanced through sustainable materials, such as those used in the new theater. This project results in a place where the collective and the individual coexist, contributing to social cohesion and sustainability.