Urban Landscape Architecture

Valencia Town Hall Square
Design Proposal

In 2000, Roberto Duato presented the Valencia City Council, on his own initiative, with an innovative proposal for the renovation of the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. His vision was for an iconic space in the heart of the city, where the essential elements of nature would blend harmoniously with the historic architecture, creating an urban ensemble of great symbolic, aesthetic and functional value.

The intervention focuses on sustainably expanding green areas, bringing freshness and vitality to the urban space. The design introduces elevated gardens, rows of Mediterranean trees and fountains that evoke dynamism and movement, reinforcing the square's identity as a lively and representative place.

Beyond the landscape dimension, the proposal gives the square a marked social function. The space becomes a cultural and civic meeting place, ready to welcome both the daily life of Valencians and large collective celebrations. With this vision, Duato's design reinforces the character of the Plaza del Ayuntamiento as a symbol of identity, coexistence and international projection for Valencia.

The city is a living canvas where the landscape defines the quality of life. The Urban Landscape Architecture section transforms urban environments into functional, sustainable and aesthetically striking spaces, integrating nature, infrastructure and design in perfect harmony.

Each project is approached as a strategic intervention: parks, squares, green corridors and public spaces designed that foster coexistence, improve citizens' well-being and strengthen the city's identity.

The approach combines innovation, environmental sensitivity and an understanding of the urban fabric, creating urban spaces that not only look good, but are lived in, enjoyed and remembered.

THE CITY DESIGNED FOR LIVING

"Essència Valenciana" - Monumental Fountain
Design Proposal

In 2004, Roberto Duato presented the Valencia City Council, as part of the Casa Decor Valencia outdoor space project, with a monumental fountain designed to mark the 32nd America's Cup Valencia 2007.

Rising elegantly between 12 and 16 metres high in the heart of a circle of living grass, the Essència Valenciana sculpture-fountain symbolises the union between Mediterranean tradition and the avant-garde spirit of the Valencian Community.

Forged in bronze, its geometric shape is inspired by the orange blossom, emblem of the Valencian countryside and coast. The three vertical tubes represent the three provinces —Castellón, Valencia and Alicante— united by a large central ring that expresses the cultural and historical cohesion of a people proud of their roots.

From the base, six metal arches spray water in harmony, evoking the network of ancient irrigation channels that still water the fields today. The water, a symbol of life and heritage, falls into a circular pond representing the Mediterranean Sea, the cradle of trade, culture and encounter.

Essència Valenciana is more than a fountain: it is a metaphor in motion, an artistic tribute to the energy, beauty and shared identity of a fertile, creative land that is open to the world.