w/césar jiménez

calasanz

2025

Calasanz is an isolated village at the foothills of the Pyrenees. Its main road leads directly to it and then stops; to the north, it is surrounded by ravines that make passage difficult. The village sits on the southern slope of the highest hill in the area, offering privileged views of the Ebro Valley. At the edge of the village is the church, and next to it, Casa Cándido. This was the former rectory of the parish priests of Calasanz, who managed to build a terrace on the rocky hillside to have their own vegetable garden.

To preserve the impressive views of the Ebro Valley while creating a pleasant garden, especially in summer, vegetation was planted along the sides, while the center remains open.

The large retaining wall that allows views at the same time posed a great danger of falling, so to avoid placing a railing that would lessen the feeling, it was decided to plant the sides thickly and make an excavation in the central part, a ha-ha, so that once at the edge the wall itself acts as a parapet and incidentally creates a sitting space with a continuous bench that allows you to observe the valley.