Week 6 Team 1 – Decode • Global Studio Team 1 • Iowa State University

Site

Location

Plaza de Los Fundadores,

Founders Plaza

Site Research

History of the Site – Rachel

This research covers the history on The Plaza de Los Fundadores, to help us understand what we are able to design, as well as what we are unable to design in regards to historic preservation. Our goal is to: preserve and celebrate the location as best as possible by keeping our urban design intervention above surface level.

Built on Loma de San Gremal, the highest point of the city, where the City of Queretaro was founded, July 25, 1531 [1].
Construction began in the 80’s, and was officially inaugurated in 1981 to commemorate 450 years of the foundation and conquest of the city [1].
4 statues are of the founders [1]:
- Don Fernando de Tapia (Conin)
  - Was an Otomi leader who converted to Roman Catholicism to show loyalty to Spanish between the years 1522 and 1526.
- Nicolas de San Luis Montanez
  - Indigenous chief, descended from the Reis Toltecs, and was a close relative of Montezuma II, allied himself with the Spanish.
- Don Juan Sanchez Alanis
  - creator of the city’s layout
- Fray Jacobo Daciano (first indigenous evangelizer)
  - Danish Franciscan friar, missionary, baptized indigenous people
Legend says on the hill of San Gremal, there was a battle between Indians and Spaniards in which the Apostle Santiago appeared [1].
Indigenous dance groups come together every year [1].
From the book History and Monuments of the State of Queretaro, mythical version of the story states that (translated from Spanish to English) [2]:
- “It is said that on the hill of Sangremal Christianized Otomi caciques and Chichimec leaders agreed to represent a battle, the few Spaniards who were there would only be as spectators. It was agreed to fight without weapons, only with fists and feet at a given moment the spirits were heated and the battle became increasingly fierce. Then the miracle happened: the sky darkened, the cross and the Apostle James appeared. At the portent, the combatants ceased combat and surrendered to the evidence of the new god. In the Sangremal hill, site of the prodigy, the cult of a stone Cross began, supposedly a replica of the one that appeared during the battle. The relic was jealously guarded by the Franciscans [2].”
Historian Oliva Solis(translated from Spanish to English) [2]:
- “Those we see there are both the Franciscan friars and those who are supposed to be the indigenous who participated in the founding of the city, the statues that we see there are these characters linked to the history Mythical of the foundation of Queretaro, this is the background of the Church of the Holy Cross with what the cross represents, the battle of the Sangremal and then who draws up the city, which is also part of this construction [2].”
Plaza was part of an urban improvement project late 70s, early 80s [2].
- Was originally the La Cruz market at the end of the 19th century.
Otomi and Spanish VS Chichimeca [3]:
- Historians believe there was an eclipse during the battle between the Spanish forces and the indigenous Chichimeca population resisting the conquest. Members of the Spanish forces claimed to have seen the image of St. James, patron saint of Spain, during this eclipse, which they believed led to the surrender of the Chichimecas. The city was named Santiago (St. James) de Querétaro by the victorious Spaniards [3].

Surrounding Context – Emma

This research covers the surrounding context around The Plaza de Los Fundadores, to help us understand where people like to congregate, as well as how people move throughout and around the space. Our goal is to: attract tourists and locals to use the plaza more, especially since people avoid the historic location due it’s unresolved exposure to intense sunlight.

North of Plaza
- Calle Independencia: Major 1-way street (car traffic)
- Libreria Sancho Panza (Book Store)
- Ortho Sistemas (Wheelchair Store)
- OXXO (Convenience Store)
- Los Picpiedra (Mexican Restaurant)
- Queretaro Rico (Mexican Restaurant)
- Nutrigo Panaderia (Bakery)
- Trees with seating/shade
- Typologies
  - North of temple used to be open spaces
  - More upper class, working class live there now
South of Plaza
- Av Reforma Ote: 1-way street (car traffic)
- Imprenta Orizaba (Print Shop)
- Postres Teresita (Dessert Shop)
- Club de Nutricion Herbalife “La Crus” (Grocery Store)
- Calle Manuel Acuna y Calle Reforma (Bus Stop – La Santa Cruz)
- Rios Rojos (Convenience Store)
- Typologies
  - South of Temple are much smaller scale (older)
  - More middle class, locals, struggling families
  - Isolated from the rest of the city by the large open space
East of Plaza
- Calle Manuel Acuna: Major 2-way street (car traffic)
- Templo y Convento de la Santa Cruz (Catholic Church)
  - Neighboring Church Plaza was the start of cultural rituals
  - Dancing festivities in pre-Columbian costumes
  - Christian, Catholic, Colombia religious transitions
  - Landmark of the Tree-Thorn Cross: a shrub inside the back patio: has thorns that grow with little crosses on the ends, resembles Christ being hung on the cross
  - Very popular place for religious gatherings
  - Highest place in the city
  - Nuns go to get water
  - Start of the Aqueduct (extremely important to Queretaro)
- Sport Field & Grey Dome
  - Act as municipal sports fields
  - Youth center
- Elotes y esquites (Food Court)
- Museum of Comtemporary Art of Queretaro (Art Museum)
  - Closed due to Covid-19
West of Plaza
- Manuel Gutierrez Najera: pedestrian only (walkway)
- Movente (Tourist Attraction)
- Mitote Bistro Bar (Mexican Bar and Grill)
- Kaluna (Cafe)
- Barrio Santo (Mexican restaurant)
- Dona Rosenda (Mexican restaurant)
- La Vieja Varsovia (Pizza Restaurant)
- Fruteria La Flor de Montemorelos ( Fruit and Vegetable Store)
- Artes Graficas Reforma (Print Shop)
Existing Plaza
- 8 Street Lamps
- Seating around perimeter, facing in
  - Metal, gets hot during day
- Popup shops
  - Sell scarves, cloths, clothing, souvenirs
- Historic fountain

Events Held There – Kristian

This research covers the activities and celebrations that occur at The Plaza de Los Fundadores, to help us understand what goes on there throughout the year, as well as when the plaza is in use and when it is not in use. Our goal is to: provide an adaptable solution that is movable or removable in case of a local event or large activity.

Dia de los Muertos

Jazz Festivals

June City Festivals

Single Time Events

Views from Plaza

Transportation & Navigation – Hunter

This research covers the transportation around The Plaza de Los Fundadores, to help us understand how people navigate the location. Our research shows that people gravitate towards the shaded locations. Our goal is to: create a provoking design that attracts people to navigate the plaza space, whether that is through the implementation of shade.

Mass transit routes, bus stops and entrance to site
There isn’t exactly a distinctive circulation within the plaza that’s evident

Shading Throughout Year – Heather

This research covers the current shading situation at The Plaza de Los Fundadores, to help us understand where shade already is and where it needs to be provided. Our goal is to: provide shade over the expansive plaza space so that people feel more obligated to use the site during all periods of the day, and throughout the entire year.