The idea of creating an outdoors gastronomic park, ready to be easily installed without the requirement of a determined infrastructure, gave birth to “Refugio”. The Project underwent through a series of changes since its first design in 2019, mostly because of new challenges the world had to face in 2020. With the covid 19, all open spaces gained importance, and Lima with a number of 10 million inhabitants was aware of the lack of such spaces. You may consider “Refugio” as an open corner, well located and with a landscaping proposal as one of its main attractions.
The Project has an area of 4158.20m2 for restaurants and gardens; adding 8198.92m2 for parking lots, storage rooms, administration offices and a specific recycling zone. Its privileged location which has as direct neighbors one of the biggest and most important shopping centers in the city, and a well known University, “Refugio” is there to satisfy the big gastronomic demand. In order to facilitate the access to the park , there are two entries and exits for vehicles, two entries for pedestrians, and a big principal entry facing the University. Besides there is an extra access straight from the mall.
The concept of this Project is to provide the user of a series of gastronomic alternatives while having the chance of choosing a terrace to sit down and just relax. So to assure a constant flow from one side to the other, the Project has organized the location of the premises following an order with a central space for an open bar. The use of containers for places that need some kind of closing like kitchens, bathrooms or storage rooms, sustain the idea of a “temporal gastronomic fair” which means that nothing is permanent there. Most of all, the same containers can be used for other purposes in the future. To simplify work, the Project will recycle the only existing structure on the land: an old construction of the first Burger King in the city. While walking around or when sitting down to relax, the users will feel protected by wooden lath roofs that allow a controlled light; and by ornamental umbrellas arranged in the terraces. There are no high walls; to separate certain spaces there are short stone walls or eucalyptus sticks usually accompanied by vegetation. One of the main purposes of this Project is the transparency and permeability towards the sky and the surroundings.
Landscaping is an important issue in “Refugio”. Green must be present at all levels. Starting with linear planters at the sidewalk level and the central bar space; and circular planters for Meijo trees and palms along the park. There are ten vertical metal structures called metal trees where climbing plants will grow. They will look like vertical green living sculptures along the way. At each of the four ends of the Project, where the premises considered as anchor are located, there will be containers with drilled holes just for vegetation placed on a second level. This way the landscaping proposal will be complete and the purpose of having a new meeting place, fulfilled.
Another important aspect is the lighting. Each element of the architectural proposal will have its own light effect. This way we have two Parks: Day and Night “Refugio”.
The Project looks to be eco friendly and to generate an upgrade for the living area around. All the materials to be used are natural, the idea of a “temporal gastronomic fair” is achieved with containers, the importance given to the landscaping and the recycling of waste; everything as part of the main objectives.
The Project follows a pattern that has been common through the years for the land in front of Manuel Olguín Avenue: An architecture that is transitory, temporal and flexible in time.