ROOTS OF THE ARSENAL

Project idea

ROOTS OF THE ARSENAL The project arises from a deep respect for the site's history and the memory of those who lived through the events that shaped this territory. Facing a site where stories of violence, absence, and silence remained hidden for decades, the proposal seeks to transform the landscape into an active tool for memory, reflection, and collective gathering. The concept is built upon the metaphor of roots. Beneath the ground's surface, the invisible traces of history persist: layers of memory that remained buried, like roots deeply anchored to the soil. These roots represent both the historical structure of the former Arsenal and everything that was silenced and hidden. From this symbolic subsurface, the revealed truth emerges. Like branches sprouting from roots, the architecture, the landscape, and the historical journey make visible what once remained hidden. The proposal transforms the act of remembering into a spatial experience, where the visitor progressively discovers history through the territory itself.

Project description

The park is a living system integrated with existing biodiversity. Pathways unfold organically following the topography, respecting the forest and environmental conditions. Nature becomes an essential part of the narrative, marking the transition from silence to memory. A historical path structures the experience, connecting interpretation centers in chronological sequence. Each station represents a moment in collective memory, allowing visitors to gradually grasp the site's historical depth. The architecture integrates sensitively; buildings emerge from the terrain as topographical extensions, reinforcing the idea that memory arises from the earth. Habitable roofs join the circulation system, merging architecture and landscape into a continuous experience. The journey culminates at Point D, a space for reflection and recognition. Here, historical vestiges meet a memorial plaza for contemplation. This symbolizes the territory's transformation from a place of concealment to a landscape of active memory. Roots of the Arsenal transforms a past-marked territory into a space for the future, where memory grows and builds collective awareness for generations to come.

Technical information

The Fusion of Architecture and Territory The technical proposal for Roots of the Arsenal is defined as a hybrid infrastructure that transcends the idea of an isolated building to become a topographical extension. The construction strategy is based on a sensitive implementation that utilizes the site's contour lines to integrate architectural pieces through amphitheaters, terraces, and platforms, minimizing visual impact and reinforcing the concept that memory arises from the earth itself. The central axis of the construction is the dual condition of the circulation system. The buildings do not only house the program; their habitable green roofs are incorporated into the pathway system, becoming elevated and walkable sections of the main route. These architectural envelopes function as a thermal and biological layer that houses exhibition halls and immersive rooms, allowing architecture and landscape to operate as a single continuous experience. Systemically, the project integrates environmental management as part of its engineering. The water system organizes a series of retention ponds and streams that manage rainwater naturally, while the preservation of the existing forest mass acts as an ecological and acoustic buffer. At Point D, the construction reaches its highest symbolic weight by articulating historical vestiges (the warehouse and the mass grave) with a memorial plaza, consolidating a landscape of active memory where technical detail is always at the service of the historical narrative.