Remodelling Alhacaba Hill and La Merced Square in the Albaicín neighbourhood, Granada

The Albaicín neighbourhood in Granada is a World Heritage Site due to its unique Moorish legacy coupled with traditional Andalusian architecture. This means any urban intervention has to factor in preserving its special features and appearance. 

Alhacaba Hill, one of its main thoroughfares, needed refurbishing to improve mobility and ensure greater accessibility. This project involved remodelling and paving a total of 5,470 m2. 

To retain the essence of Albaicín’s roadways, granite setts with a sawed top face, flamed finish and other shear-cut faces were used. The pavements were covered with small-sized fine or Granadino paving stones and strips of bush-hammered granite setts 5 cm thick. 

La Merced Square was surfaced with the same pavement as Alhacaba Hill and rearranged over several levels with stone seating connected by accessible paths for people with reduced mobility. A side ramp was also fitted to make it easier to get to Horno de la Merced Street. 

Additional actions included underground conduits to embed wiring in walls, new street lighting, alterations to the supply and drainage networks and improvements to the landscaping. Twin-bowl drinking fountains have been installed in the square and street which are fully adapted for people with reduced mobility. Street furniture and granite stone markers, 25 cm in diameter and 90 cm high, were placed to safeguard the pedestrian areas in the street and square.