Vallarta’s Historic District is having a Renaissance. That old town has gone through an urban renewal program for the last six years. The pinnacle of the town’s renewal is a total regenerated coastal line that combines functions of authentic local spirit for living, retail, leisure and tourism. A joint venture of architecture and landscape firms designed the urban renewal project for the old town’s iconic waterfront locally known as the Malecón. A safe and pedestrian-friendly public space conceived for the locals and tourists to mingle harmoniously with the romantic sunsets of the great Pacific Ocean. By Oct. 20, the work will proceed to its completion.
The town of Vallarta now holds a progressive and visionary strategic plan for the next 20 years, with a series of tourist destinations including the Malecón as the soul of the Historic District. The site consists of an 800-meter-long waterfront area composed of 12 sea-front retail blocks, starting from Fishermen’s Square — were the first hotel of the village still stands — leading down to the main square along the Paseo Diaz Ordaz Street.
The public space design of the Malecon is conceived with a series of strategies to claim back the public realm for the human scale. The design consists of creating shade over pedestrian areas with guarantee view-lines to the ocean for pedestrians. A new efficient lighting system has also been introduced. The custom design for this space will enhance the sense of safety in the night time and allow the user to perceive the presence of the ocean together with the reflection of the starry skies of moonlight night. The main feature of this unique public space design is the Mosaic paving. A local native myth of creation as narrated through drawings by the Jalisco-born artist Fidencio Benitez gave birth to the composition of the Mosaics pattern. The original art-work will be exhibited in the city’s museum when opened.
