PARCO DELLE CAVE: CAFFETTERIA

CC&CB, Arqtos

• Architects

The construction of the beautiful historic center of Lecce left huge gaps on its southern flank: the pietra leccese quarries, the source of easy-to-work honey-colored stone that facilitated the city’s Baroque forms. The quarrying methods gave rise to open- air caves, geometric shapes with sharps angles which , over time have been softened by erosion.

The construction of the railway line and station separated the city from the caves, turning the area to something like a backyards hidden behind a wall, a place where we throw everything we don’t want to have or see in our house, That is the recent history of the Marco Vito Caves.

The competition brief envisaged the transformation of two caves- separated by Via del Ninfeo- into a city park, the creation of infrastructure for their enjoyment the renovation of an old masseria and the construction of an auditorium. The proposal that we presented focuses on the interpretation ad use of the existing spaces and the relationship between the two caves, replacing Via del Ninfeo with a bridge that establishes a clear, comfortable link between them.

Our visit to study the components of the competition as a part of our fieldwork revealed a different reality, which forced us to undertake earth movement, reformulate facilities, redesign circulations, negotiate with neighbouring projects, undo and redo. The usual process, always different. In this case particularly full of surprises. Some good- not may-, but always inspiring.

West of the park, the future of the Café is its location on one of the few platforms on high ground, and the volume holding the lift that connects the café to the park on a lower level. It will include a restaurant area and service facilities for the general public.

Detailed knowledge about the history and the conditions of this area, especially the beautiful local stone, permitted and indeed demanded the redesign of the bridge to reduce its span and improve its integration with the land and the project. Partially “floating” above the rock, the deck rests on a triangular box from which it cantilevers out above a 60 meters wide void-or absence of rock-.

Although vegetation grows spontaneously and quite lush here thanks to huge amounts of humus deposited over many decades, the previously commenced plantation will only become truly “lush” at some time in the future. Like most gardens, the work being done now will only be fully enjoyed by future generations. The paths, slopes and stairs have been adapted to make the most obvious natural apertures.

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Carlos Castanheira

Architects:

Álvaro Siza

with

Carlos Castanheira

and

Luigi Gallo

Office in Portugal:

CC&CB, Architects, Lda.

Project Coordinator:

Pedro Carvalho