A view where the plaza by the old terminal meets the lake. (click all images on page for a full lightbox view)
An honorable mention for a re-use of the airport in Quito, Ecuador (2007). This project uses the Ecuadorian flag as an underpinning of the design; its three colors are yellow, blue and red. It is a response to the burgeoning nationalism in the turn to the twenty first century. The yellow-or land, is used as park and agricultural space. The blue, the water, is in the old runway area. The water unites the design along the length of the nearly two mile long site. At the ends are tipped planes of water that unite the sky and ground. The white water spills down into the 'chinampas' area and reconstructed wetlands area on the ends. In this middle zone are three lakes that support agriculture, urban use and native habitat. The markets are 'red', symbolizing the blood of the people. The market spaces also respond to astrological signs during the months of the battle for freedom.
A community center and conference center occupies the new terminal building which is now anchored at the ends by new hotels. These hotels are a landmark defining the new northern district of the city in addition to framing a view from the main gathering space along the central lake.
This gathering space is immediately a park, converting the existing golf course and keeping the plantings and topography largely intact.
Gabriel Diaz-Montemayor, Kevin Hinders, Andy Wilcox, Milagros Zingoni, Tyler Stradling, Samantha Sears, Ken McCown, design team.
A view of the plan. The 'chinampas' area to the left, the center community lake, and the constructed wetlands on the right compose the central water feature.
A section through the park. The tower structure optimizes views, capacity for sky gardens and structural stability in a potential earthquake.
An aerial view of the design as it sits in the city context.
A view down the 'chinampas' area - the entourage in the images alludes to Ecuador's status as not just 'biodiverse', but 'megadiverse.' We bring nature back into the city, and illustrate the connection of the people to the land.
A view across the 'chinampas' area. The chinampas are local community gardens; this area expands the agricultural capacity in the core of the city.