Rehabilitation and landscape adaptation in the Garden of Isabel II in Aranjuez

Integrated project in EDUSI Aranjuez.

The Garden has a great historical, cultural and artistic value in the Royal Site of Aranjuez and began to be drawn on the territory of the municipality at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Since then, the Garden of Elizabeth II has undergone numerous modifications and changes to adapt to the needs of each era without losing its essence.

This area was declared a Site of Cultural Interest in 1931, a Historic Garden in 1996 by the General Plan for Urban Planning and Cultural Landscape as a World Heritage Site in 2001.

Through the landscape recovery action, which has been cofinanced by 50% by the City of Aranjuez and the European Regional Development Fund, it has been possible to recover the essence of this historic circular space that had been altered by the construction of seven kiosks of concrete in 1998.

The demolition of these kiosks and the improvement of the pavements and elements of the urban space have enabled the Isabel II Garden to be integrated with the Santiago Rusiñol esplanade, the monumental environment of the Royal Palace, the Parterre Garden and the Plaza de San Antonio, in the transition from the Palaciega Zone to the historic centre of the city.

Undoubtedly, however, the most important element of this action has been the work carried out to implement the Tourist Office, designed with the aim of making it a modern and functional space, but, above all, respectful of the enclave in which it is located.

Its transparent construction has been designed so that it does not pose a visual obstacle and is integrated with the environment, materials with low environmental impact have been used, as well as energy-saving lighting, to make the Office an efficient energy space.

The Isabel II Garden is one of the tourist attractions of Aranjuez, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco for its Cultural Landscape.