Alberto Campo Baeza

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CALM WHITE

We would like to give Madrid the most beautiful square in the world.

The existing Plaza del Dos de Mayo is full, over-crowded and cluttered. And what we propose is quite the opposite: a simple, empty, bright and luminous plaza, with a multitude of possible functions. Just what a plaza should be. Plato was right when he said that the CITY is born from REASON.

We want to highlight its HERITAGE. As one might expect, we will relocate the Arch of Monteleón to a place at the entrance to the plaza, on the corner of Calle Velarde, to give it back its original SIGNIFICANCE as a gateway. And at the opposite end, where Daoiz Street finishes, we will place the sculptural ensemble of Daoiz and Velarde, sword included.

The difference in ground level corresponds to a slope of approximately 2%, similar when sitting at a table on the terrace of the Tatiana café, where the wide pavement is like a continuum that we want to emphasize. We envisage the plaza rather like a box open to the sky, a space of 70×70 meters (4,900 m2). In the center, a 40×40 meters SQUARE (1,600 m2) of WHITE Macael marble cobblestones, forming an absolutely HORIZONTAL PLANE, where rainwater can drain off into the ground.

In practically its entire perimeter, the boundary is level, which guarantees total ACCESSIBILITY to the plaza. The slightest changes in level are used to create continuous benches. And the two corners appear as complete cubic blocks of marble, like two cornerstones. Marvelous seating. The vertices of this 40×40 meter plane are about 15 meters away from the four facades of the plaza. Of these 15 meters of granite strip, the first five will be used as the main pedestrian thoroughfare, a pavement. And the remaining ten meters will be filled with trees under which the outdoor cafés and children’s playgrounds will be located. This border strip, with its grey granite paving, will enhance the beauty of our white plane.

We will plant MANY MORE TREES, following a 5×5 m grid around the edges of the four sides. Most of the existing trees will be retained, while the others will be transplanted to adjacent streets or to a new position in the square. This substitution, which can be progressive, will be adapted to the new GEOMETRIC GRID structuring the overall space of the square. We will ask the City Council for the most suitable NATIVE SPECIES of trees, such as Linden and White Poplars, with simple tree surrounds with a stainless steel angle that do not change the level of the pavement. The deciduous leaves will protect against excessive sunlight in summer and allow for radiation in winter.

In addition, we will place light, white AWNINGS supported by the lampposts to protect the edge of the central square from the sun. BENCHES will be positioned around the perimeter and light, mobile chairs will be added, which can be easily removed to empty the plaza or to fill it with activity. This plan will be the ideal place for a mobile STAGE for events, opening up all kinds of possibilities.

In the middle of the central square, a series of perforations in the ground will spout out water like a mysterious FOUNTAIN. As the run-off water will be filtered into the ground, this will be collected and stored under the square in order to feed the fountain and the surrounding vegetation.

When Michelangelo Buonarroti designed the Capitoline Hill in Rome, he made the ground spherical, meaning that the world emerged from there and he marked its center with the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius. When, in a few years’ time, we are in our WHITE CALM, we will understand the reason for this name. Our plaza will continue to be a haven of peace where so many beautiful things have happened. Children playing, poetry recitals, premieres of operas by John Adams or performances of Carmen. Or so many things associated with art and life.

Nothing more and nothing less.