The historic Plaza de la Merced, located in front of the Cathedral-University of Huelva, has been recognized with the 2025 Architecture Award, granted by the Official College of Architects of Huelva (COAH) in the category of Planning, Urban Design, Landscape Recovery, and Public Spaces.
This award distinguishes an intervention that combines urban innovation, sustainability, and respect for heritage, establishing the square as a contemporary benchmark for public space. Developed by Estudio ACTA under the direction of architects Ramón Pico Valimaña and Javier López Rivera, the project transforms the plaza into an open, accessible, and versatile space where architecture, urban life, and nature are seamlessly integrated. The pedestrianization of three side streets establishes continuity with the surroundings and opens up a large central area facing the Cathedral-University, which serves as a historic and architectural backdrop.
The design incorporates green areas and mounds that evoke Huelva’s characteristic topography, creating distinct areas that facilitate multiple uses: strolls, cultural activities, or community events. The square has become a social lung, adaptable to both daily life and large-scale celebrations.
Situated in a strategic urban enclave, the intervention strengthens the visual and functional connection with the Cathedral-University, a declared Site of Cultural Interest (BIC), harmonizing new interventions with the historic character of the space. Every element, from the mounds to the paving, meets criteria of sustainability, efficiency, and aesthetic coherence, striking a balance between heritage and modernity.
Sustainable paving: innovation and urban functionality
Breinco participated in the remodeling of Plaza de la Merced by providing sustainable paving solutions, carefully integrated into the urban setting. The paving follows the geometry of the space, enhancing continuity and accessibility while contributing to a clear interpretation of the urban complex.
Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS)
The integration of Breinco’s Acqua Pave permeable paving establishes an advanced approach to sustainable water management. Incorporated within Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS), these pavements allow for the natural infiltration of rainfall, preventing runoff and contributing to the water regulation of the space without interfering with pedestrian flow or the daily use of the square.
Beyond its functionality, the paving serves as a structural element of the project, organizing routes, connecting areas, and enhancing the spatial reading of the plaza. In this way, Plaza de la Merced stands as a model of contemporary urbanism, where sustainable paving and responsible water management are integrated into a design that combines sustainability, accessibility, and heritage value—offering a welcoming and coherent public space for the city’s daily life and social activities.
The remodeling of Plaza de la Merced represents a model for contemporary public spaces where sustainability, accessibility, and nature intertwine. The intervention reinforces the square’s historic identity while ensuring it meets the needs of daily use and large-scale cultural events.
The project thus solidifies Plaza de la Merced as an urban and social benchmark, where architecture, landscape, and technology converge to redefine the public experience in Huelva.
Architects and Landscape Designers: ESTUDIO ACTA | López Rivera, F. Javier | Pico Valimaña, Ramón Project completion year: 2024 Surface area: 11,883.14 m² Huelva Información | 2025 Architecture Award | Discover more about our projects and solutions on LinkedIn |
