November 28, 2003
Reclaiming Madrid's Plaza de Colón: A project by Fernando Quesada
By publishing the provocative project that follows by Fernando Quesada, Agglutinations seeks to introduce readers to the very interesting conceptual research being carried out by young architects in Spain.
Design Statement
“National Zoo” proposes the colonization of one of Madrid’s most prominent public spaces, the Discovery Gardens at the Plaza de Colón. It seeks to supplement the overscaled flag currently standing at the plaza with a series of aluminum sculptures; specifically, models of animals (elephants, dogs, chickens, and hens; swans, seagulls, and penguins) composed according to principles of Japanese origami. In so doing, the project hopes to defamiliarize the form and meaning of the Spanish national flag, raising questions about the foundations of Spanish national identity.