Retiro Park is the product of contemporary thinking in a
city whose life has spanned several centuries.
The spider web of a street layout that in Madrid is typical of older
European cities that have grown in response to citizens’ needs instead of
according to a premeditated block system organization. Parts of the business district to the
northwest of the Accent center are developed in blocks, but in general, the
city follows an old style of randomized development similar in manner to other
older metropolitan areas like Athens, Paris, or Rome.
It is curious then, to experience a place like Retiro
Park in such an old city. Retiro is a
textbook example of a “green space” designed by civil engineers into a large metropolitan
area. Another example of such a space
would be Manhattan’s Central Park. What
is interesting to notice though, is that Retiro is roughly shaped as a
rectangle. Central Park is a perfect
rectangle, but that is understandable because of the more recent thinking—with
respect to Madrid’s age—that went into planning Manhattan as a uniform system
of streets and avenues. It was curious
then, to experience Retiro Park in all its “green space” glory. Retiro Park is a functioning respite for all
Madrid’s citizens to enjoy as it has its own lake, museum, turtle pond, variety
of different grassy fields, and crystal palace modern art exhibit. With all these different features
conveniently squeezed into shape that looks like it fits between a few city
blocks, Retiro Park is a juxtaposition of a new idea in an aged city, and one
could not help but feel a little bit of Alice in Wonderland Syndrome after
wandering back toward the Atocha metro station for some delicious Cien
Montaditos.
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