Plaza del Torico

In the historical centre of Teruel, Spain, b720 arquitectos’ new design for the Plaza del Torico aims to accentuate the centuries-old urban fabric while also making the refurbished square an asset in its own right. The brief – to modernize the paving, lighting and overall aesthetics of the square – could have been fulfilled by simply replacing the old systems, but the client was insistent about adding a contemporary touch.
The lighting concept by the Barcelona-based lighting design firm Artec3 is based on the idea of enhancing the perception of perspective, direction and linearity given by its own spatial configuration and reinforced by the differences existing along the ground levels.

The pavement is treated as an element of fluency with luminescent inlays, which are spread over the whole square and evoke old water tracks reminiscent, finding the Torico fountain at its point of inflexion. At the same time, this fluid arrangement is regularized and its distribution is ordered to address the location of the ark and the water reservoir underneath. The floor luminescent inlays have been created with the use of colour changing RGB LED lines. This LED linear fixture has been designed especially for this project, leading to the achievement of its specific luminous and functional needs. Through the use of a video software it is possible to control both the LED inlays and the lighting for the façades and urban spaces, in accordance with the programming and the artistic content chosen for each occasion. 1400 pixels lighting textures and rhythms were created, generating a dynamic lighting project.

In order to achieve an adequate luminous sensation for this square, a special environment was created through the use of light, in which the luminescent inlays acquire a normal role, surrounded by the lit façades and the portals upper plans. The plaza lighting is reduced to the façades vertical plan that suddenly becomes the horizontal plan that protects the portals. The lighting for the portals was solved with the use of cylindrical LED luminaries, hidden in roof´s details.
Remarkable buildings receive a special lighting treatment, being lit upwards in order to emphasize their architectural details. The traditional lighting system previously at the square was kept as a formal element, improving the general lighting condition and relating the plaza with a reminder of the historical city center. This traditional luminaires were equipped with 70w HID ceramic lamps improving the existing lighting quality and reducing its energy consumption.
The Torico emblematic sculpture is lit from the plaza facades, with narrow beam LED projectors, and its column of support, with 150w HID ceramics lamps. Due to the use of this technologies and new generation led lamps, the maintenance is estimated to take place every 20 years, and reduced energy consumption is achieved.

The use of a Lighting Control makes it possible to regulate the system intensities as regular schedule or nocturnal, as well as its variations or dull by the end of the nocturnal schedule.
Using a lighting control for the entire square has allowed us to program the content, color and intensity of the LED inlays, depending on the festivity or the event taking place. It has also allowed us to dim the architectural lighting and to modify the contrast factor for a better visualization of the artistic content on the pavement luminescent inlays.

Ayuntamiento de Teruel

b720 arquitectos