HERITAGE, ETHNOGRAPHIC AND LANDSCAPE RECOVERY OF THE SAN XUSTO BATHS.
The fundamental objective of the project is the recovery of a fluvial environment of great beauty and the enhancement of medicinal mining waters. With the intervention the patrimonial elements are recovered (the space of the old bath and the power plant that were in ruins) and ethnographic (4 mills and some annexed buildings), of the environment, clarifying the routes and recovering that fluvial landscape that was colonized by invasive and abandoned species.
Local
Spain
the municipality of Cerdedo-Cotobade.
Consellería de Medio Ambiente, Territorio y Vivienda, Xunta de Galicia.
Mainly rural
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
No
No
Yes
2020-12-15
As individual(s) in partnership with organisation(s)
The fundamental objective of the project is the recovery of a fluvial environment of great beauty and the enhancement of medicinal mining waters. With the intervention the patrimonial elements are recovered (the space of the old spa and the power plant that was in ruins) and ethnographic (4 mills and some annexed buildings), of the environment, clarifying the routes and recovering that fluvial landscape that was colonized by invasive and abandoned species.
The memory of the place was there, hidden under the undergrowth and in ruins. The illusion of many neighbors to see it recovered was the engine of the project along with the involvement of the regional administrations (Xunta de Galicia) and municipal (Council of Cerdedo-Cotobade).
It was proposed the rehabilitation of an old power plant as a thermal bath to create a meeting and well-being place for neighbors and visitors to the place.
An activity that can also function as an economic and social activator for the town, recovering a small-scale thermal bath tourism existing until the middle of the twentieth century.
The new uses keep the water as a plot thread. The strength of the River Lérez gives way to the softness of the sulphurous waters (which have therapeutic properties) and which sprout from different points of the river slopes.
The recovery of this industrial heritage converges with many cultural initiatives and natural values of the environment, resulting in a project of several scales, including the development of a Pact for Landscape among various institutions (Institute of Studies of Territory, Consellería de Medio Ambiente, Territorio y Vivienda de la Xunta de Galicia, the Council of Cerdedo-Cotobade, neighbourhood associations, etc.). in order to achieve the protection and management of the "meanders of the River Lérez" as a landscape system.
The development and recovery of such a complex territorial area requires cooperation between institutions and neighbours.
Public thermal baths
landscape
Recovering memory
heritage
culture
The innovative nature of the proposal is considered to be the joint treatment of a heritage rehabilitation project and a landscape rehabilitation project, making it a unique project. The strong social character and the importance of the participation of all the agents who signed the first Pact for the landscape of Galicia, make this project has followed an innovative process, in terms of institutional involvement (Xunta de Galicia and Concello) and different neighborhood associations. The goal of uniting all forces and making the process possible is a success in itself, because of the complexity.
The main objective of the project is the recovery of a river environment of great beauty and the enhancement of medicinal mining waters. With the intervention the patrimonial and ethnographic elements of the environment are recovered, clarifying the routes and recovering that fluvial landscape that was colonized by invasive and abandoned species. But the memory of the place was there, and the illusion of many neighbors to see it recovered was the engine of the project. It was proposed the rehabilitation of an old power plant as a spa to create a meeting place and wellness for neighbors and visitors to the place. But the project is part of a much larger initiative. In order to carry it out, a Pact for Landscape was signed among various institutions (Institute of Studies of Territory, Consellería de medio ambiente, Council of Cerdedo-Cotobade, associations of neighbors, etc.). The development and recovery of such a complex territorial area requires cooperation between institutions and neighbours. Participation and management processes were key to the development and implementation of the project.
The river Lérez is a structuring element of the territory, its winding orography reveals a very powerful landscape full of heritage and ethnographic elements, fruit of its extensive historical memory. The dialogue between the riverside and its water is evident, we found real roads, Roman bridges and cereal mills that used the strength of the river to develop a self-sufficient economy. Its use remained until the fifties, coexisting in time with industrialization and, at the beginning of the twentieth century, with the use of the energy of the river to generate electricity, one of the first hydroelectric plants in Galicia.
This hydraulic power plant that supplied energy to the entire city of Pontevedra is located in San Xurxo de Sacos, Cotobade, coexisting on the same bank with four cereal mills, connected with the adjacent cores through an old Roman road. New connecting routes appear next to the old territorial tracks, and a large pipe diverts the water from the river from an upper level, extending its path to descend hundreds of meters with a gentle slope, to finally fall on the turbines of the plant. In the sixties it fell into disuse and as a consequence the abandonment and degradation of the building.
The revitalization of a building of this architectural and heritage value, is an important revaluation of the history of electricity in Pontevedra. In this project we recover central spaces, maintaining the essence of the original industrial character. The new uses keep the water as a plot thread. The strength of the river Lérez gives way to the softness of the sulphurous waters (which have therapeutic properties) and which sprout from different points of the river slopes.
The recovery of this industrial heritage converges with many cultural initiatives and natural values of the environment, resulting in a project of several scales, including the development of a Pact for the Landscape among several institutions.
The recovery of this industrial heritage converges with many cultural initiatives and natural values of the environment, resulting in a project of several scales, including the development of a Pact for the Landscape among several institutions (Xunta de Galicia and City Council) and neighbourhood associations, in order to achieve the protection, management and management of the "meanders of the river Lérez" as a landscape system.
Boost to the local economy
A thermal use that worked in the past is recovered and increased with the adaptation of the main building of the power plant for spa use. The fact of associating the intervention to a sustainable activity that increases its economic value and helps to dynamize the surrounding territory is one of the main axes of the project. The signing of the pact for the landscape is also a boost for this economic activity.
Environmental recovery
From the environmental point of view, a measured action has been carried out that respects the environmental values of the Lérez River ecosystems. We worked by eliminating the invasive vegetation of acacias, robinias and eucalyptus trees to restore light and the original vegetation to the space. In the area closest to the river there are examples of riverside vegetation, these plant formations have great ecological value. As for the tree stratum the species with the most specimens is Alnus glutinosa, accompanied by several Corylus avellana and some Fraxinus excelsior. Salix atrocinerea and Laurus nobilis also appear around the ruins of the mills.
In the herbaceous stratum we find ferns and mosses the conservation of this riverside vegetation was considered a top priority. As for the rehabilitation, materials such as wood, stone and marble have been made use of from the nearest suppliers. Trying to minimize the carbon footprint of construction. The minimum energy consumption and the use of biomass as an energy source has been another key focus of the project.
The recovery of the memory of the place has been something highly valued by the neighbors. This place retains many layers of history, the mills, the power plant, the experiences of the river water, fishing, power generation. The abandonment of the last 50 years had made it a neglected place and where the whole identity of what had been built with history was lost. This territory had had a past that was being erased, the project allows to convert it into an accessible place and with a program of activity based on the well-being that will benefit the aged population of the environment and will promote tourist activity to dynamize the area.
The neighbors provided a lot of historical information such as photographs and interviews where they told their experiences. They were also present throughout the project process in which 4 presentations were made to neighbors and a workshop. The action in the building responds to the analysis of the place from a territorial scale, the enhancement of the different types of existing heritage and the connection between them. The ruin of the power plant is currently the only point that allows the passage between the old spa area and the old cereal mills. Thus, the intervention aims to recover this "step" through the ruin, connecting the various landscape interventions in the environment, and organizing the operation of the building. In this way, the plant works
The pact for the landscape that was signed to allow the recovery of this environment, is an instrument of participation, agreement and mediation between public and private agents, focused on acquiring explicit commitments in favor of the landscape. These commitments recognize the patrimonial character as a public good that contributes to dynamizing the economy, culture and development of the territory.
Environmental studies, architecture, landscape, heritage, social engagement all those fields where involved in the project. It is also important to remark the construction process. The work process was very artisanal, having to have stonemasons, blacksmiths and carpenters specialized in traditional and modern techniques.
The project has a marked public character recovering a public space for citizens. A place of inclusion and more accessible allowing the shared use of all elements, bathtubs, fountains, access to the river, public picnic areas, wooded areas, mills, etc.
The fundamental objective of the project is the recovery of a fluvial environment of great beauty and the enhancement of medicinal mining waters. With the intervention the patrimonial elements are recovered (the space of the old spa and the power plant that was in ruins) and ethnographic (4 mills and some annexed buildings), of the environment, clarifying the routes and recovering that fluvial landscape that was colonized by invasive and abandoned species.
The memory of the place was there, hidden under the undergrowth and in ruins. The illusion of many neighbors to see it recovered was the engine of the project along with the involvement of the regional administrations (Xunta de Galicia) and municipal (Council of Cerdedo-Cotobade).
It was proposed the rehabilitation of an old power plant as a spa to create a meeting place and well-being for neighbors and visitors to the place. A place that can also function as an economic and social activator for the place. Recovering a small-scale spa tourism existing until the middle of the twentieth century.
The new uses keep the water as a plot thread. The strength of the River Lérez gives way to the softness of the sulphurous waters (which have therapeutic properties) and which sprout from different points of the river slopes.
The recovery of this industrial heritage converges with many cultural initiatives and natural values of the environment, resulting in a project of several scales, including the development of a Pact for Landscape among various institutions Pact for Landscape among various institutions (Institute of Studies of Territory, Consellería de Medio Ambiente, Territorio y Vivienda de la Xunta de Galicia, the Council of Cerdedo-Cotobade, neighbourhood associations, etc.). in order to achieve the protection, management and management of the "meanders of the River Lérez" as a landscape system.
The development and recovery of such a complex territory requires cooperation among institutions and neighbours.
In the approach to the project, from the beginning there were participatory processes. This process continued throughout the project period, which was extended for 3 years due to lack of funding. It was the impulse and illusion of the neighbors and the municipality, which made it possible to get the money to carry it out. They joined forces and enthusiasm to develop the project and this process was very enriching. i
The uniqueness of the Project lies in the approach of a proposal for heritage and landscape rehabilitation at the same time. It recovers memory, buildings, landscape. The fact that so many institutions have cooperated and the steps provided for in the European Landscape Convention have been followed makes this project a pioneer in our region. This project is also intended to boost a rural region with a significant population decline and an ageing population. This project aims to improve the quality of life of the inhabitants with the use of thermal waters. Accessible routes have been generated to access fountains and bathtubs. The enjoyment of a river environment that was abandoned is the great contribution of the project.
The recovery of the San Xusto Baths is aligned with several aspects contained in the sustainable development goals, as well as the objectives of the European Green Deal. Improving the quality of life and health is related to the recovery of abandoned thermal springs. The restoration of heritage and the ecosystems of the river environment. At a time of climate emergency this is an example of recovery with a low carbon footprint, where renewable energies and quality spaces for citizens have been implemented.
