Historic City Conservation Plan
Córdoba ES
Francisco Daroca Bruño
2002
Type
Urban Plan
Tags
new ecological paradigm, conservation, Cordoba´s historic quarter, Spain ccc
Visitability
Allowed
Description
The Special Plan for the Protection of the Historic Centre of Córdoba (PECHC) is the project that has made it possible to preserve the incomparable heritage of the city, during a historical period in Spain when urban speculation has been the norm. It was a multidisciplinary effort led by Francisco Daroca Bruño, which included architects, art historians, lawyers, archaeologists, urban planners and other specialists in various areas.The protected area, of around 246 ha, includes the walled enclosures, the Roman Bridge, the Albolafia, the Calahorra and the mills. As well as being one of the largest heritage areas in Europe, it is home to around 36,000 people and a symbolic landmark for the inhabitants of the entire city. In addition to this, it is one of the most important economic resources in Córdoba.The plan starts from the identification of a series of invariants that characterize the urban qualities of the historic city in order to protect them. It is about preserving the urban fabric and the alignments, as well as the parcel system. In addition, the preservation of the patio house typology is considered especially important, whose main parameters are defined and regulated. The use of traditional construction systems such as the load-bearing wall is also recommended.The plan is committed to a model of ecological and social sustainability based on a management of public areas that tends to pedestrianization and providing a network of public facilities to the entire area. The objective is to promote residential use in the area, making it possible to update a lifestyle linked to heritage. Especially interesting are the considerations related to the preservation of the ecological balance of the old city, which include limitations on the occupation of the subsoil in free zones or the emptying of plots.The plan includes a catalog with 119 monuments and 513 buildings. It also includes the figure of "protected ensemble" , which recognizes the scenic interest of certain areas.