San Rafael Park
Colombia
San Rafael Park, covering an area of 1,200 hectares, is located approximately 30 minutes from the centre of Bogotá. The park surrounds the city’s main drinking water reservoir, which supplies Bogotá, and forms part of the El Sapo Protected Natural Reserve. Owing to the stringent environmental protection requirements governing the site, all proposed activities are limited to passive recreational uses.
The masterplan for San Rafael Park is structured around six distinct Landscape Units: the reservoir, the native Andean forest, the beach, the northern meadow, the eastern meadow and the water treatment plant. Each area has been conceived with careful respect for its existing natural conditions through a landscape design approach aimed at preserving native species and protecting them from invasive ones. The proposal also incorporates recreational activities tailored to the natural character and ecological value of each landscape unit.
The architecture proposed for San Rafael Park follows a unified design language, inspired by the region’s historic haciendas, characterised by continuous white façades and pitched roofs. Alongside this historical reference in the choice of materials and building forms, sustainability has been a fundamental consideration throughout the design process. All buildings are constructed using dry construction techniques, avoiding materials such as concrete that could adversely affect the natural environment. Furthermore, they are raised at least 50 centimetres above ground level to prevent damage to the soil, watercourses and other natural features of the site.
CLIENT:
Financiera de Desarrollo Nacional SA
SCOPE:
Design architecture. Concept.
CONTACT
Manuela Casado ( mcasado@idom.com )
