The mysterious story of the garden that makes water

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    Project update June 2017 – The mysterious story of the garden that makes water, Cehegín, Spain

    The young architects aimed to heal the visible and structural wound in the territory through a habitable garden that produces water. Photo: David Frutos.

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    Project update February 2014 – The mysterious story of the garden that makes water, Cehegín, Spain

    Restart of construction: the park and building integrates with part of the old town, the elevated lookout, and some of the paths and water platforms. Image© Cómo Crear Historias - comocrearhistorias.com.

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    Project update February 2014 – The mysterious story of the garden that makes water, Cehegín, Spain

    Restart of construction: general view of the square situation higher than the construction site. Image© Cómo Crear Historias - comocrearhistorias.com.

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    Project update June 2017 – The mysterious story of the garden that makes water, Cehegín, Spain

    A business incubator encourages enterprise back into the area and stimulates economic and social activity in the neighborhood; both scarce resources. Photo: David Frutos.

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    Project update June 2017 – The mysterious story of the garden that makes water, Cehegín, Spain

    The new paths to interconnect the neighborhood were based on the “desire paths” used by locals. Photo: David Frutos.

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    Project update February 2014 – The mysterious story of the garden that makes water, Cehegín, Spain

    Restart of construction: corner of the park, showing one of the lower depuration platforms (right). Image© Cómo Crear Historias - comocrearhistorias.com.

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    Holcim Awards ceremony for Europe – Geneva, Switzerland

    Winners of a Holcim Awards Acknowledgement prize in 2005 for Europe (l-r): Mónica García Fernández and Javier Rubio Montero.

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    Project update February 2014 – The mysterious story of the garden that makes water, Cehegín, Spain

    We just have to plant the seed.

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    Project entry 2005 Europe – The mysterious story of the garden that makes water, Cehegín, Spain

    The result: an oasis.

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    Project update June 2017 – The mysterious story of the garden that makes water, Cehegín, Spain

    A project to rehabilitate the area in both economic and botanical means has now been implemented by Madrid-based architects Cómo Crear Historias. Photo: David Frutos.

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    Project entry 2005 Europe – The mysterious story of the garden that makes water, Cehegín, Spain

    Site before intervention.

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    Project entry 2005 Europe – The mysterious story of the garden that makes water, Cehegín, Spain

    From desert to jungle.

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    Project entry 2005 Europe – The mysterious story of the garden that makes water, Cehegín, Spain

    How to get to the other side.

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    Project entry 2005 Europe – The mysterious story of the garden that makes water, Cehegín, Spain

    Sewage plant.

  • Awards Acknowledgement prize 2005–2006 Europe

Completed in 2015, this urban renewal and landscape project supports recovery of an old quarter degraded by a landslip. The scheme maximizes water retention by exploiting the site’s existing qualities, including water recycling and filtration to provide a sufficient water supply. Pathways follow the “desire paths” established by residents. A business incubator encourages enterprise back into the area, stimulating economic and social activity in the neighborhood.

By Monica García Fernández and

Completed in 2015, this urban renewal and landscape project supports recovery of an old quarter degraded by a landslip. The scheme maximizes water retention by exploiting the site’s existing qualities, including water recycling and filtration to provide a sufficient water supply.

Pathways follow the “desire paths” established by residents. A business incubator encourages enterprise back into the area, stimulating economic and social activity in the neighborhood.

The mysterious story of the garden that makes water

Project authors

  • Monica García Fernández

  • Javier Rubio Montero

Project updates

June 14, 2017 | Project update | Cehegín, Spain

Capturing economic and botanical vitality

Project update June 2017 – The mysterious story of the garden that makes water, Cehegín, Spain

A heavy snowfall in the Spanish town of Cehegín caused a landslip that destroyed a cluster of houses on a steep embankment in the old quarter. The area was not repaired and became known as “El Coso”. Little by little, the area deteriorated even further and interrupted the flow of adjacent streets, while the townsfolk created ad hoc paths to traverse the urban void.

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February 04, 2014 | Project Update | Cehegín, Spain

Garden blooms as finances flow

After a pause in construction of 18 months due to financial issues, this project for a public garden in Cehegín is now continuing. The project in the dry south-east of Spain makes the most of the existing qualities of the site in order to maximize water retention. Priority is given to water recycling and careful guidelines are provided for gradual development of the park.

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September 16, 2005 | Winners for Europe announced | Geneva, Switzerland

Prizes for sustainable construction projects in Europe

The Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction sought out the best sustainable construction projects in Europe – and awarded the winners about a quarter millions Swiss Francs at the Awards ceremony in Geneva. In his address, Swiss Federal Councillor Joseph Deiss said that sustainability, which has a long tradition in Switzerland, is necessary in all aspects of life, and that economic and ecological priorities are no contradiction.

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June 23, 2005 | Regional Jury Report – Europe | Zurich, Switzerland

“Capitalizing on the inherent qualities of the topography” – Holcim Awards Jury

Holcim Awards ceremony for Europe – Geneva, Switzerland

This work makes a beneficial contribution to the characteristically dry region of the targeted context. Particularly innovative is how the project capitalizes on the inherent qualities of the topography to collect and retain water. Also credited is the proposal for time phasing of the work that gives priority to water recycling and thereafter provides guidelines for gradual development of the park. This will ensure that no resource are wasted, thus suggesting a strong ecological sensibility concerning the natural environment.

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April 07, 2005 | Project Entry & Details | Cehegín, Spain

Project Entry 2005 for Europe

Project update February 2014 – The mysterious story of the garden that makes water, Cehegín, Spain

This project for a public garden in Spain is merited for making a beneficial contribution to a characteristically dry region. The scheme makes the most of the existing qualities of the site in order to maximize water retention. Also commended is the proposal for time phasing. Whereas priority is given to water recycling, careful guidelines are provided for gradual development of the park. 

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pin Cehegín, Spain

Cehegín, Spain