An Alternative Future for the Landscape of Castilla-La Mancha

Carl Steinitz and Christian Werthmann, editors, 2007

This presentation is the result of a semester-long study about the future of a 200km by 70km corridor in the autonomous region of Castilla-La Mancha, in the heart of Spain. It was produced by twelve students from the postgraduate masters program of the Graduate School of Design, Harvard University. The class was taught by Professors Carl Steinitz and Christian Werthmann.

At this significant point in time, we chose to study a representative corridor that offers a wide range of urbanization phenomena currently occurring in the region. Beginning at the outskirts of Madrid, the corridor extends past the historic capitol city of Spain, Toledo, to its southern boundary at Ciudad Real, in total an area of about 14,000 square kilomteters. The study operates on a twenty year planning horizon. It includes a vision for an alternative future for the region as a whole and policy and design proposals that offer site specific solutions for locally significant situations.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Methodology/Problem

Context/History

Trends and Projections

Most Valuable Landscapes

Vision 2025

Iconic Elements of the Landscape

Visual Landscape Management

Case Study: Consuegra

Case Study: Madrid-Toledo

Ciudad Real: On the Way to Growth

Ciudad Real: A New Entrance

Tajo River Regional Park

Toletum Archeological Park

The Vega Alta Park

Participants

Acknowledgements

Testimonials