Urban Growth
Planners should first determine where the centres of cultural and educational activity will be and where growth will take place, in structuring the area. Good connections with the rest of the city are essential.
An effective urban and landscape plan for the Vega Baja should consider the following:
1. An internal communications network based on historic roads
Roads and road structures are necessary for access to sectors within the Vega Baja. A number of roads already exist, having grown up over considerable time. Many date from the 18th century. They include a pattern of baroque routes left by the workings of the Arms Factory and other users. These are valuable assets.
The roads and their location must be seriously considered in view of the archaeological importance of the area, the new activity envisaged for it as a cultural resource centre and the open work processes that will be involved. Safeguarding the cultural heritage must be compatible with people’s need to live active urban lives.
2. The university complex as a centre of growth and as a fundamental educational resource in the city
Establishing itself in Toledo has not been easy for the University of Castile-La Mancha. Initially, the teaching of Humanities gained from being located within the historic centre of the city. Incorporation into the University meant welcome restoration for old buildings like St Peter Martyr, the Mother of God convent and the Padilla and Lorenzana buildings. Most importantly, these old buildings have become lively and dynamic centres within the old part of the city.
The university later took over the Arms Factory complex following the City Council’s 1998 agreement with the Ministry of Defence. This was the beginning of an important rehabilitation of an industrial city, a remarkable example of the restoration of Spain’s industrial architecture.
Since then, a site of over 35,000 square metres has been redeveloped to make a first-class university technology campus. The scheme was financed by the Regional Government and European Community and supported by the UCLM (University of Castile-La Mancha) Vice-Chancellor’s Office. The conversion includes lecture rooms, teaching and research labs as well as a library, café-refectory, indoor sports hall and a water sports block.
The new complex has become an important resource in the Vega Baja and should be further developed. We suggest the following actions:
1. consolidate the on-site educational resources and the support services for the technology campus
2. develop the university’s research activities further by the creation of new units and consolidation of existing ones
3. improve the urban environment: access, car parks etc…
3. Riverside location
Full appreciation of the Vega as a plain requires its integration with the city. For this, it needs to be made presentable and easier to get to, and for the energy sources that have always existed here to be put to use. These are currently clean energy sources and they should be managed and used. Here we have in mind for the area a general clean up and refurbishment.
Bringing the Azumel and Cañares Dam power stations into service, with the approval of the Tajo Federation, could partly supply the hydraulic power needed for particular urban zones, giving real sustainability to the urban development plans.
4. Creation of focal points in cultural facilities
The provision here of resources like the Museum and Research Centre and other local cultural facilities would energize the wider area. New urban communities might be encouraged to grow in the cultural and social climate these would generate.
5. Green space refurbishment
The planning of public open space and car parking areas should follow an in-depth consideration of the landscape in order to minimize any negative visual impact these may have when seen from the historic centre on the hill.
6. Analysis of the communications network to the surrounding area and areas of new urban development
The Municipal Urban Development Plan (POM) put forward a communications system to link the Vega Baja with surrounding areas. The communications system should be reviewed in the light of the latest studies of the area and the subsequent proposals made regarding the area’s new cultural and archaeological role.
7. Element-integrating urban planning
Although certain aspects of the new development plan can and must be determined today, the end result will be a proposal that establishes the final urban conditions, with respect to legal, administrative and city management limits, for the zone.
