MUSEUMIZATION OF THE GERMANÍAS PROMENADE

Paseo de Germanías and Air Raid Shelter No. 1: a space of memory and city

A project for heritage recovery and urban reconfiguration

The Paseo de Germanías in Elche has been the object of an integral intervention designed by our studio, Rocamora Diseño & Arquitectura, which combines architecture, museography and urban planning to recover its historical and functional value.

This project has transformed the public space and the Air Raid Shelter No. 1, integrating both elements in a proposal that values historical memory, urban identity and accessibility.

The intervention has redefined the Paseo de Germanías as a meeting and learning place, where museum design and sustainable urban planning converge to create a unique experience for citizens.

History and evolution of Paseo de Germanías

The Paseo de Germanías is a key space in the history of Elche. From its origin in the agricultural land surrounding the city to its transformation into a bourgeois promenade and social enclave in the twentieth century, it has witnessed numerous historical stages.

During the Spanish Civil War, the construction of the Air Raid Shelter No. 1 turned the square into a strategic point for the protection of the population. However, fragmented urban interventions in later decades diluted its identity and its ability to connect with the urban fabric.

Our intervention seeks to recover this space as a place of memory and coexistence, through an approach that combines heritage recovery, architectural design and contemporary museography.

Design of the new Paseo de Germanías: integration of history and public space.

The new configuration of the Paseo de Germanías is based on criteria of accessibility, sustainability and heritage coherence.

Key interventions in urban space

• Reorganization of the square to improve circulation and the relationship between its historical elements.
• Unification of pavements and urban furniture, respecting the materiality of the surroundings.
• Increase in the green area, from 1,402 m² to 1,947 m², with native vegetation that improves thermal comfort.
• Integration of the Air Raid Shelter No. 1 in the promenade, with new accesses and a clearer urban reading.
• Open-air educational spaces that complement the visit to the refuge with accessible historical information.
• Play and rest areas, which return the square to its function as an intergenerational meeting place.

One of the fundamental axes of the project is the “time line”, an architectural narrative that organizes the space and guides the visitor through the historical landmarks of the Paseo de Germanías. This resource, materialized in steel, runs through the square connecting the Cross of the Fallen, the accesses to the shelter and other heritage elements, reinforcing the identity of the place as an open-air museum.

Musealization of Air Raid Shelter No. 1

Air Raid Shelter No. 1, a 68-meter-long subway structure, has been restored and converted into an immersive exhibition space.

Key elements of musealization

• Guided tour of the original tunnels, highlighting their historic architecture.
• Informative panels and graphics, contextualizing the Civil War in Elche and the role of the shelter.
• Linear lighting system, which emphasizes the depth and texture of the subway walls.
• Immersive audiovisuals that recreate the atmosphere of the time with original testimonies and sounds.
• Sustainable materiality, respecting the authenticity of the space with stabilized earth paving.

The shelter’s original entrances have been rehabilitated and an open-air museum has been incorporated into the plaza, where exhibits provide information about the historical context of the shelter and its impact on the local community.

A benchmark in heritage conservation and urban design

This project, designed by our studio, Rocamora Diseño & Arquitectura, represents a model of intervention in public spaces with high historical value, combining archaeological research, architectural restoration and museographic strategies.

The action on the Paseo de Germanías and the Air Raid Shelter No. 1 not only recovers its historical significance, but also adapts it to current needs, creating a functional, accessible space with a strong heritage identity.

Key project data

• Location: Passeig de Germanies, Elche
• Total area of the promenade: 5,700 m²
• Green area: increased from 1,402 m² to 1,947 m².
• Shelter area: 68 meters in length
• Design and museography: Rocamora Diseño & Arquitectura
• Main elements: Underground museum tour, reorganization of the public space, heritage integration, etc.