Turia River Transformation Project

Description

This large linear park along the old Turia riverbed, developed over 35 years and still unfinished, has radically transformed the city for the benefit of the residents’ quality of life and sustainability. The origin of this public space dates back to 1957, when a flood devastated the city. It was then that it was decided to alter the course of the river, leaving unresolved the question of what to do with the large empty space. Citizen action in the 1980s led to the abandonment of plans to turn the riverbed into a two-lane motorway and the development of the large public space that we know today. The first project plan was commissioned to architect Ricardo Bofill, who in 1982 proposed connecting the site with the promenade and the harbour dock. This plan clashed with that of the neighbours, which advocated an “urban forest” project, more focused on the planting of native trees and plants. In the end, the project for the park was included in the 1984 General Urban Development Plan, which divided the riverbed into 18 different sections. Bofill was commissioned to design sections 10 and 11, while the neighbours’ plan was implemented in section 2, eventually influencing the design of the rest of the park. Since this first intervention, the park has been progressively developed, including cultural infrastructures such as the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències (City of Arts and Sciences), the Oceanogràfic (Oceanographic), the IVAM (Valencian Institute of Modern Art) and the Palau de la Música (Music Palace). The park has become a unifying element of the city, connected by pedestrian and cycle paths and full of sporting and recreational amenities that make the different areas a hive of activity. Valencia’s large green space is a source of pride and identity for the city, a success story that can serve as a model for other cities around the world.