CELTIC GARDEN

In the late prehistoric period, Iron Age, the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula became a powerful mining region, full of Castros, which are the earliest types of settlements recorded in the region. The castro is a habitat with a rich artistic heritage in terms of architecture. Each castro is constituted by a group of buildings, divisions and warehouses forming scattered nuclei, surrounded by one or more walls. The walls of all the constructions are made of stone and are usually circular. Due to their need for defence, the forts were located in high or difficult to access locations, hence, 2500 years after their construction they are still a fundamental landmark in the landscape in this region, as in other areas of Europe where this type of construction was also common, Britain or French Brittany.

The Celtic Garden is inspired by the forms of the castros. It arises from the superimposition of different circular elements of different sizes and functions. In the centre of the plot, a circular sheet of water is proposed, from which a glass cylinder is created to house an interpretation centre. Different situations are created around the lake by means of topographical actions. On the one hand, volumes of grass are created to structure the space, creating different points of view; on the other hand, the circular surfaces embedded in the terrain serve as more intimate living areas, secret zones or spaces to be discovered.

With another logic of smaller circles, different varieties of ground cover plants are introduced into the garden to provide colours and textures. Small areas of lawn for the enjoyment of visitors and symbols of Celtic culture printed on polished concrete pieces.

All planting, both herbaceous and woody, are arranged throughout the garden in a matrix of circles of different sizes along the entire length of the garden, which function as small tree surrounds. Through the arrangement of the plantings, paths are generated, creating a sense of circulation in the garden, which favours a route through the whole garden.

Logic of the garden: The garden is designed to function in two fundamental areas. On the one hand, the great wealth of spatial situations with the more open or exposed mounds, more reserved or intimate areas together with the plasticity of the sheet of water, the masses of plantings rich in colours and textures generate interest in the visitor. On the other hand, the Celtic symbolism arranged throughout the garden, both on the pavement and on the façade of the pavilion, aims to arouse the interest of visitors to get to know the garden and discover in the interpretation centre the Celtic culture, its relationship with nature and its impact on the landscape.