Twisted Valley - first phase

El Valle Trenzado aims to recover the pedestrian's traffic footprint. Since the channeling works that were made in the 70s definitely skewed Elche's Canyon continuity. For years the citizens of the city went through this place hardly enjoying it. This landform (which reaches 40 meters deep) divides the city of Elche along 4km, and the first phase covers 115.000m2. It gives the city a chance to travel in a few minutes to an area of high environmental quality. We propose a system which can be adapted to the geographical and administrative complexities of the place, negotiating with all agents who claim the space as their own, to make it more accessible and multiply the public use of the steep slopes. The system shows its flexibility being adjusted through a participatory process that grouped for citizens and collectives of the city for a month. The main points toconnect, areas of special interest,the most requestedroutes,a large collection ofdesireduses...were incorporated into the project and began to define the braid. After this first step, the system was testedagain,managingthe complex and contradictoryrelations betweenmultiple administrativeinterlocutorsresponsible for the place: Confederación hidrográfica del Jucar, Consellería de MedioAmbiente, Consellería de Patrimonio, Comunidad de Regantes de la Acequia de Marchena, Aguas de Elche… and Elche City Hall. Phase of the 1b Braided Valley has been completed. The project has not been easy. Having to manage widely differing demands, even contradictory, of interlocutors as Confederación Hidrográfica, Consellería de Medio Ambiente or Consellería de Patrimonio it was not the most complicated part of the project. taking part in the processes of citizen appropriation of the valley through the sessions of participative braided was an exciting experience ... this was the beginning of the recovery of this place. Actually, the issue that has complicated this project was the change of municipal corporation. The new developer of the project became the main stumbling block. It was an inherited project that they refused to develop Despite the difficulties, I think we have assumed our responsibility with citizens without regarding the pettiness of some rulers who sought to blur the intervention and we have managed to sow the seed of a hopeful future park .... The first phase of the project has been partially completed, the local construction company took the opportunity to thin the project until it is in the bones. The project has been reduced to the infrastructure ... The construction company, abandoned the work. Citizens naturally occupied the project quite naturally, claiming for his walk, encouraged by the new access, intrigued by the sinuous forms The administrative situation has normalized at least temporarily. The work won t be officially open. The system aims to give voice to the Vinalopó river. The sinuous braids have no relation to the orthogonality of the city. These squiggly lines shape thes lopes. Offer more comfortable routes and incorporate the possibility of crossing the river to continue the ride. The roads that float on the untouchable riverbed of concrete, become the heroes of the reconquest. And they blur the difference between bridge and path, becoming a graphic thought solved by a material abstraction. A single bridge becomes a network of trails which fold, bend, stretch, tighten, disperse, curve, and of course twist. The vegetation is also a material. Native species and trees help to build the shadow of the forest. A system based on the experience, understanding and empathy to connect with elegance, both sections which divide Elche. The valley has already started plaiting, now reduced to infrastructural minimums, and over time they will allow the flourishing of urban activities.