Strips Of Wild Nature

Las Liebres (The Hares) is a medium-size development whose central park is not that of a typical design; extending for 600 meters and with a width of only 17 meters this space unfolds as a pedestrian green strip made up only of ornamental grasses.

- Jimena Martignoni

The bucolic image of this linear area, uncommon for these kinds of projects, immediately connects with a visual representation of the wild landscape of the pampas. When walking this long piece, framed by some almost two-meter high clusters of plants, the visitor feels immersed into a different atmosphere where local nature takes charge with no effort.

The proposal for a linear central park was a design decision made in early stages by the architects and planners. Later, landscape architect Clara Billoch —a local specialist in flower and grasses production and garden design— thought about grasses as the most suitable option for this space. In the first place, she decided not to add any large trees because that would mean casting dense shadows over the rear yards of the lots; with lots covering areas between 650 and 1,000 m2, most of their rear yards face the linear park. In order to get the most sun she incorporated the large clusters of grasses.

Another much relevant reason for the use of grasses and some herbaceous perennials were the soil and irrigation conditions. Originally the area was a low-lying piece of land which was filled, therefore soil general conditions are not the greatest. As for an irrigation plan, the project was thought out as a very low-maintenance one. In this sense, few plants compare to ornamental grasses; with a very high draught tolerance and strength to bear a wide range of conditions plus the nearly nonstop performance and visual impact, these tough and eye-catching plants became perfect for the site.