Welcome to the South. Mixed-use at the Ría

The Promenade

Client

Location

Category

Rendering

Video

Furniture

Grupo Alvores
Huelva, Spain
Retail

Utopic

Cabana

Moroso

The Promenade:
Project report

Located along the picturesque coast of Huelva, amidst serene marshlands and the majestic Odiel River, this architectural project is conceived as an intervention that transcends mere construction to seamlessly integrate with its natural and cultural surroundings. More than just a collection of commercial and office spaces, this proposal seeks to establish a profound connection with the site, respecting its memory, materiality, and landscape.
The uniqueness of this location lies not only in its scenic beauty but also in its rich history and deep-rooted local identity. From this premise, the project’s design is based on principles of sustainability and contextual sensitivity, aiming to create a space that is not only aesthetically coherent but also highly functional and environmentally responsible.
– Huelva, Spain

Sinergy in Action

Towards a New Retail Dimension

ZAL Huelva is consolidating itself as a strategic hub for logistics consolidation across industries, services, and platforms, grounded in the idea of synergy and a strong commitment to reinventing the commercial experience.

The project’s core is structured around mixed-use spaces for offices and retail, unified through a porous design that incorporates courtyards, corridors, terraces, and viewpoints—creating a network of opportunities and encounters.

This intervention responds to the paradigm shift in the retail sector, where experience and community connection take center stage. ZAL Huelva integrates elements such as gastronomy, health, education, community, and creativity, going beyond the traditional concept of a shopping center.

Inspired by the local narrative and the rich relationship with the marshlands and port environment, the proposal emphasizes sustainability and openness to the landscape.

relying on strategies such as the incorporation of low-maintenance vegetation, water features to regulate temperature, and aromatic pathways that foster biodiversity, the project reinforces its commitment to sustainability. In parallel, it strengthens the concepts of mobility and place-making by improving access from the city and enhancing memorable spaces that promote collective well-being. This convergence of factors — industry, commerce, and leisure — enhances the project’s appeal for visitors, workers, and residents alike, establishing ZAL Huelva as an innovative benchmark.

At its core, the architecture goes beyond mere functionality to become an experiential commercial space, where synergy between users and operators is enhanced through co-creation of content and continuous adaptation to new demands. With this approach, ZAL Huelva seeks to activate its immediate surroundings, bringing vitality and opportunities for economic and social development, while remaining rooted in cultural identity and environmental respect. By dissolving the boundaries between interior and exterior, the project embraces light, climate, and the memory of the place, shaping itself as an inclusive, dynamic, and forward-thinking commercial center—capable of engaging in dialogue with both the city and the ever-evolving estuary.

The layered façades incorporates slender vertical elements with lighting which accentuates the flow of the walkway, while intermittent pockets of greenery and seating reinforce a sense of place-making and communal interaction.

Visitors traverse a landscaped promenade designed to mediate wind and highlight local vegetation, establishing a welcoming threshold between the urban fabric and the new commercial volumes.

Merging interactive installations with local themes, reflecting the project’s commitment to community and creativity. It incorporates soft, organic forms and durable materials, maintaining a strong visual link to the surrounding retail and leisure spaces.
A continuous, gently curved canopy transitions into a small roof overhang, unifying the building’s silhouette. This interplay of smooth vertical surfaces and glass underscores ZAL Huelva’s ethos of accessibility and fluid movement.
The overlapping volumes reveal a distinctive green rooftop. The façade treatments—featuring metal accents and neutral-toned surfaces—combine with generous planting to soften the commercial environment.
The totem, rising above the landscaped parking lot, functions as a navigational beacon and a branding statement.

La singularidad y el valor cultural que ofrece este entorno natural son esenciales para proyectar la arquitectura del área

The uniqueness and
cultural value of this
natural environment are essential to design the architecture of the area