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Praza de Oseira is the central square of Rodeiro, a small municipality of 2,500 inhabitants in the interior of the province of Pontevedra, Galicia. It is located on the route of the French Way of St. James “Camiño de inverno” and owes its name to the fact that one of the roads that borders it connects Rodeiro with the monastery of Oseira in the neighbouring municipality. It is a 10th century Romanesque monastery that throughout history has had great economic and social importance in this region. The monastery stands out for its size and its compact construction with large granite blocks.
This square, which had already undergone several remodelling works throughout history, was, before the intervention, elevated above the adjoining streets and enclosed around its entire perimeter by a small wall and fence. The proposal consisted fundamentally of eliminating the barriers of the square towards the surrounding space, opening up the space towards the street and inviting all passers-by to enter and use it as a space for leisure and recreation.
An irregular amphitheatre with large granite blocks absorbs the different slopes between the streets and the square. At the same time, this grandstand makes it possible to preserve the existing large oak and chestnut trees. In addition, a ramp and an adapted zigzag path have been created to connect the streets surrounding the square.
Throughout the project, special attention has been paid to all the stone details. From the rough cobblestones of the road traffic to the slabs of the pedestrian pavement and the polished granite of the large blocks, drains and other pieces that make up the drainage system. In this way, the project is also a tribute to the people who have always worked with stone in this region.
