Slide and mermaid

Carpa Olivera in Mexico

History

Originally built in 1915 and inspired by sea pools in Lisbon, the Carpa Olivera was a social center on Olas Altas beach in the Historic Center of Mazatlan, a city in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. Many famous people of that time gathered and socialized here, and it was a must for every tourist. In 1954 Carpa Olivera was devastated by a hurricane, leaving it in abandonment, but with time people came to use the pool. In the year 2004 it had a remodeling that soon fell into neglect and vandalism.

Idea

As a proactive team that generates ideas for improving their city, Colectivo Urbano, composed by five architecture, landscaping and urbanist firms, made the proposal to rescue this public space to the Mazatlan Investment Unit, led by the architect Roberto Diaz. Proposing to recycle, clean and return this pool fed by tidal water to it´s splendor, and integrate a new playful element: a spiral slide that dramatically promotes the social reactivation for local and tourist, where children and families have fun. This element acts as a strong singular sculpture by the sea.

Slide

As a sustainable strategy, a commercial space that will be proposed concession, giving due attention to the maintenance and monitoring of the site, ensuring optimum operation conditions without direct cost to the city of Mazatlan. On the top level and connected to the pedestrian sea wall is an open area, that serves as a lookout and where a pre-existing sculpture is relocated, allowing pedestrians to rest in a perimeter bench while watching the horizon and the beautiful Mazatlan sunsets.

Ramp

Descending the ramp is a surrounded stepped square fitted out as an area of shade, creating an oasis of coconut palm trees, which interconnects to the snack bar. On the lower level you get to an area where there is a long bench, where you can contemplate the good fun and the dancing water fountain, where children recreate before entering the sea pool or climb the water slide to enjoy the wet rush it offers. At this level on the end, we find restrooms and shower offering a complete service.

Project data

Architect

Colectivo Urbano
Architektur:
[H] arquitectos
Jacqueline Meixueiro, Roberto Díaz, Javier Hidalgo
EPArquitectos
Emilio Castañón, Erick Pérez , David Escobar.

