Vejer de la Frontera
Urban Design Competition Honorable Mention
The Windmill Quarter is a 75 square kilometer peri-urban district comprising the cultural and recreational site of Parque Loma Oeste and three new neighborhoods named after their nearest windmill: Cruz de Conil, Santa Inés, and Morillo in Cadiz, Spain. The proposal aims to: 1) create a complex yet cohesive urban extension that reflects the richness and scale of the existing traditional urban fabric; 2) promote place identity that celebrates local heritage and building traditions; and 3) support the local economy without compromising the unique landscape and topography of the town.
Designed sceno-graphically, the northern neighborhood embraces the site’s dynamic topography and vistas. Referencing the architectural materials, colors, and details of the old town, the neighborhood is composed as a series of intimate public plazas.
Urban Design Spain
Process
The sequence begins with a 20-room hotel that pays homage to Vejer’s rich architectural heritage and terminates with a church at the end of the promontory, its campanile speaking to that of Iglesia Divino Salvador. Thirty-four units with flexible ground floors allow for a variety of uses such as shopfronts and cafes.
