THE INTEGRATION OF BOLÍVAR AND PICHINCHA SQUARES FOR THE COMMEMORATION OF THE 500TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CITY OF CUMANÁ IN EASTERN VENEZUELA.
On the occasion of the commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the founding of the city of Cumaná, the so-called “First-born of America”, where the river and the sea come together to celebrate the meeting of various Venezuelan indigenous ethnic groups; and, within our management of heritage rehabilitation, at the head of PDVSA La Estancia, once the “Cultural and Social Arm” of the Venezuelan oil company, we developed the project of recovery of its two main historical icons: Plaza Bolívar and Plaza Pichincha, paying homage also, to the heroes and battles that from that land took forceful steps for the freedom of the homeland.
Until the date of the beginning of our work, both Plazas, despite being next to each other, were separated, as if there was nothing in common between them.
With the Statue of Bolívar in its center, one esplanade was destined to the cult of the Liberator; the other, to the celebration of Antonio José de Sucre, Illustrious Son of that land, who, in the Battle of Pichincha achieved the liberation of Ecuador from the Spanish Empire, and with respect to whom, the locals feel and express true devotion, which, in particular, to those of us with “Cumanese” blood, has always been transmitted to us.
Current image of the Bolívar and Pichincha Plazas. Note the integration of the two Plazas and the recovery of the “Casa de la Gobernación”. Also, identify the elements for the commemoration activities. Note the all-encompassing and open visual of the urban ensemble.
The indicated area, which integrates and gathers them, as well as its surroundings, in spite of its great historical significance, were in a state of great deterioration; and, of the Government House with patrimonial character located there, only the columns that had already endured important damages on February 25, 1999, during the demonstrations for the death of the student Ángel Luis Castillo Muñoz, murdered the day before, when activities were being carried out in demand of university vindications. The state government authorities at the time responded to the riots by abandoning the palace, which was finally set on fire.
In our mentioned Project of Rehabilitation and Integration of the Plazas, we completed the phases corresponding to our usual way of acting, with great precision and the greatest care for details of its patrimonial elements, as these are evocative of our patriotic, architectural, urban, and artistic history.
We began with an Integral Diagnosis “in situ”, to identify the surrounding communities and incorporate them to our work; also, to census one by one the patrimonial buildings; streets; businesses; trees and plants; and, above all, to carry out the archaeology of the site, which, due to its antiquity, importance and proximity to the Cathedral of the city, generated surprising findings. Of relevance was that during the work, children from the surrounding schools were permanently invited to participate in the archaeological work that constituted the starting point of our historical, patrimonial, and structural studies.
The work carried out was comprehensive of the entire public space, with the purpose of highlighting the surrounding buildings, most of them of colonial origin, which were also restored. Likewise, the surroundings of the two squares were conceived as a space for commemoration, meeting, contemplation, and new uses.
We commented on the fundamental premises of the Rehabilitation Project:
- To give privilege to pedestrians over vehicles, by paving pavement at a single level, guaranteeing their right to accessibility.
- Enable a single vehicular traffic channel with continuous flow, defined with demarcation markers, to allow the urban complex to be seen.
- A concrete perimeter strip was built that now delimits the front of the facades.
- Redefine the height and orientation of the Monument to the Liberator Simón Bolívar, expanding the surrounding area for ceremonial activities.
- Relocate the monuments to Antonio José de Sucre and Captain Abdón Calderón (Ecuadorian hero of our Independence who participated in the Battle of Pichincha), expanding the commemorative spaces.
- After an exhaustive diagnosis, to upgrade, expand and update the public service infrastructure networks (white water, drainage, sewage, electricity, gas, and telecommunications) for the benefit of the area’s inhabitants.
- Installed a new public lighting system with LED technology, which increased lighting capacity and energy savings.
- Identify tree species for their valuation and conservation. Incorporate new plants.
- The archaeological excavations and heritage properties were musealized for their knowledge and valuation, where the area where the archaeological remains of the colonial “Caja de Agua” (water tank) are located was distinguished with colored pavement.
- Arrangement and regularization of the façade fronts for their relationship with the recovered space, enhancing existing uses and incorporating new uses.
- The rehabilitation works were executed in two phases:
(I). Clearing and release of concrete elements to generate the area of occupation of the site for the new project and allow the execution of the pertinent archaeological investigations. Topographic survey and development of the integral rehabilitation project. Social accompaniment.
(II)- Removal and recovery of pre-existing granite slabs of the Bolivar, Sucre and Calderon monuments and recovery of planters, concrete benches and bases and public lighting poles. This second phase consisted of the activities described below:
- Topographic survey for project staking, construction of utility benches, archaeological excavations, and demarcation of green areas.
- Development of utility projects (electricity, water, gas and telecommunications).
- Phytosanitary treatment and relocation of tree species, supply and planting of new species, delimiting landscaped areas.
- Construction of concrete slabs as a base for the paved paving of the spaces.
- Placement of urban furniture of high design, materials, and technology.
- Incorporation of an identification and signage system.
- Delimitation of the Cathedral and Bolívar streets with the construction of reinforced concrete road markers.
- Construction of the monuments to Bolivar, Sucre, and Calderón with marble cladding.
- Restoration of the Pedestrian Statue of the Liberator Simón Bolívar, as well as the Busts of Antonio José de Sucre and Captain Abdón Calderón and the supply and installation of urban furniture (granite benches and bollards) with the addition of the installation of a public lighting system for the plazas, consisting of 70 new poles with 140 energy-saving LED lights.
- Rehabilitation of the façades, especially the façade of the Casa de la “Gobernación”.
The development of the project responds to the work model carried out for the rest of the works that we were able to execute in ten years. However, the recognition of the success of the project, in this case, responds to our conviction that the incorporation of the surrounding communities in all stages of the project and the participation of children in the archaeological work that preceded the construction work, were determining factors because they allowed us to identify in our spaces the patriotic essence that we were able to transmit in the spirit of the work.
We are satisfied with our management, and even more, we are happy because through it, the traces of our Liberator past, shines today in the Athens of America, Cumaná, the city that for 200 years has been promoting our encounter with our history!
