PLAZA LAS AMÉRICAS (2009)
San Salvador, El Salvador
Architect Collaborator: Arq. Leopoldo Samayoa Paz

Las Américas Square deals with the intervention of a large rhomboid shaped roundabout, with two important monuments: at the center the “Divine Savior of the World” sculpture and at the eastern end, a sculpture of Saint Oscar Arnulfo Romero, bishop and martyr. The goal is to turn that public space into a place of congregation and multiple uses.

The design proposes a plaza combined with a park portion. The first, to the west, diaphanous, flat and hard. The second, predominantly green, with a gentle slope, presents an ascending route that evokes a peregrination, as a link between the two monuments.

The new square is a versatile and plural platform, with great programmatic richness. Under the motto “create your own square”, Las Américas accommodates a wide range of activities, with different degrees of use intensity: 1) Any given day moderate use; 2) Temporary exhibitions; 3) Market, fair; 4) Open air forum / concert / cinema and much more.

The project strives to flee from an authoritarian vision (author design) and to do a lot with very little.