Ground Specific is a garden designed for the use of the elderly residents of Calaf, a small town located in the middle of Catalonia. It was one of our first participatory projects developed through direct involvement with the project’s destined users, the city’s community of senior citizens, and through dialogue with the city’s administration. 

The garden’s primary aim was to reopen to the community a secret garden enclosed by high walls that had been given to the city council by a benefactress on the condition that it be made available to the elderly. Local inhabitants suggested various ideas regarding the park’s use and landscaping, such as the addition of planters, benches, chairs and tables for playing cards and even a dance floor. In memory of the high wall that once concealed the garden, the new perimeter is defined by a wall perforated by portholes of various sizes. The project opened the garden up to the city, turning it into a social public space managed by the elderly community itself. Korean text – Lugar Específico is a garden for the elderly people of Calaf, a small town situated in the middle of the Catalunya. 

It was one of our first participative project developed through a direct involvement of the community of elders and through a dialogue with the city administration. The primary aim was to reopen to the community a secret garden hidden behind high walls, bestowed on the city council by a benefactress on the condition that it was used for the elderly. Local inhabitants suggested various ideas regarding the use and landscaping, such as the addition of chairs and tables for playing cards, planters, benches and even a dance floor. In memory of the high wall that once concealed the garden, the new perimeter is defined by a wall perforated with portholes of various sizes. The project opened the garden to the city turning it into a public and relational space managed by the elder community itself.

Call for project “Idensitat”, winner
Program: Public space
Project: nicole_fvr/2A+P
Client: Idensitat, Municipality of Calaf
Location: Calaf (BCN), Spain
Year: 2005/2007
Size: 400 sqm
Photo: Xavier Gil Dalmau