REHABILITATION OF THE HISTORICAL TOWN OF BENLLERA
Penllera
architecture
Itziar Quirós Urdampilleta
Pablo López Presa
COLLABORATORS
Sofia de Pablo (Signage)
CONSTRUCTOR
COYSA GROUP S.L.
PROMOTER
Carrocera Town Hall
photograph
Miguel de Guzmán and Rocío Romero
The small town of Benllera, in the heart of the central Leonese mountain, preserved a series of picturesque elements in its historic center that had been degraded or lost: an old pylon, a concrete bridge over a stream or a shed attached to the church belfry.
The intervention recovers the rural essence of the urban complex restoring the pylon, covering the bridge with local stone and eliminating worthless additions next to the church. Electricity networks were buried, also incorporating an ornamental lighting system that highlights the tower and pylon in the night landscape. An old spring was also recovered in a clear decision to dignify the water as part of the cultural landscape..
The new pavement, cream-colored deactivated concrete, It is combined with bands of limestone from La Magdalena arranged in a herringbone pattern., what it brings unit, dignity and a clear pedestrian character. The tower recovered an oculus that was hidden under a roof and its unique tin weather vane was restored..
The project is completed with tourist signs about the town and the cycling routes in the area, along with a bicycle repair station.
Ultimately, a public works performance in a small municipality that highlights what exists, dialogues with tradition and projects a new rural language towards the future.





