designboom · Creativity & design

Comillas Waterfront Promenade Integrates Sand and Vegetation

A new promenade in Comillas, Spain, designed by Hector Navarro + arkhitekton, redefines the town's relationship with the Cantabrian Sea by incorporating natural elements into its design.

The project treats sand, often removed from promenades, as an integral part of the public space. Sand carried inland by wind and visitors settles into planted areas and permeable paving, becoming a feature of the promenade.

Inspired by local dune ecosystems, the design creates a transition between the town and the beach. It uses vegetation, permeable surfaces, and mineral materials to adapt to changing coastal conditions.

Limestone riprap connects the promenade to the rocky coastline, while permeable surfaces allow sand and water to integrate with the ground.

Individual benches are strategically placed, offering sea views without conventional street furniture. The design prioritizes pedestrian areas over car space, enhancing public use.

The intervention works with existing natural processes—wind, sand, vegetation, and water—to shape the new landscape.

The promenade is conceived as a linear landscape, blending urban fabric with the beach through planting, mineral surfaces, and seating areas that respond to coastal dynamics.

AI-samenvatting op basis van de bron.