The Department of Housing and Urban Agenda of the Basque Government has unveiled the winning project for the urban transformation of the Playa de Vías area in Easo-Amara, Donostia. The event, organized by El Diario Vasco at the Hotel Catalonia, featured the participation of counselor Denis Itxaso, architects Jorge Perea and Samuel Llovet (JPAM City Makers), authors of the proposal, Pablo García Astrain, Director of Housing, Land, and Architecture of the Basque Government, and María Arana, architect at Urbanbat.
Itxaso emphasized that the winning proposal serves as a starting point for continued collaboration with residents and institutions. "We have a team that has won with a proposal, but we must continue working together. It is not a finished proposal," he stated. The goal is to incorporate new contributions to improve the project before advancing its urban planning process.
The project includes a combination of protected, regulated, and free housing to promote social diversity and economic viability. For the counselor, the transformation of Playa de Vías should also help overcome the division created by the railway space and improve the connection between the Ensanche Romántico and Amara Berri.
Furthermore, the proposal extends its scope to the urban environment, incorporating areas such as Araba Park, Centenario Square, and Amara Park. The aim is to enhance pedestrian connections, rethink mobility, and articulate existing public spaces to promote their continuity and citizen use.
A notable element is the potential inclusion of a sports center with a swimming pool near Easo Square, along with other spaces for cultural, neighborhood, or welfare facilities. Itxaso mentioned that the City Council is already working with the city's sports clubs to define the needs of the future facility.
The proposal also commits to increasing tree planting and improving the environmental quality of the area, respecting existing trees and planting new ones. Itxaso linked this green dimension to the need to adapt the city to climate change effects and urban resilience challenges, as well as addressing parking demands raised in meetings with neighborhood associations.
The Basque Government will continue holding meetings with associations and stakeholders in the area to discuss the proposal and gather further suggestions. Itxaso advocated for building "a great institutional agreement and also a great social and citizen agreement."
