Att Forenas

The strategy begins by identifying the moments where Cathedral Hill articulates with the surrounding city. Based on historically established access points, eight small-scale urban interventions are proposed. Varying in scale and function, these interventions clarify entrances, stabilise edges, and reinforce connections. This bottom-up approach assumes that precise, local actions can gradually transform the whole, allowing incremental change rather than imposing a singular gesture.

Within the Cathedral itself, the intervention follows the same principle of precision. Underused or problematic areas are identified and reactivated through the introduction of a new layer of furniture, reinforcing existing spatial qualities without altering the building’s external form. The aim is to enhance its capacity to accommodate contemporary uses while preserving its historical character.

Connectivity is central to the proposal. Physical and visual links between the hill and its surroundings are strengthened to ensure that the area remains open and accessible. At the same time, internal connections between institutions are clarified so that the hill can operate as a coherent campus, weaving together different actors and programmes into a shared framework.

A new common entrance emerges as a response to the convergence of flows on the site. Positioned on the lower part of the landscape, it complements rather than confronts the Cathedral’s vertical presence. Its lightweight structure frames views towards the historic landmark and accommodates contemporary programme requirements, functioning as both a meeting point for residents and an arrival space for visitors. While the Cathedral remains the cause, the new entrance becomes the response, absorbing and organising movement across the site.

The proposal understands the relationship between centre and periphery as dynamic rather than hierarchical. By decentralising activities across the hill, the system is allowed to grow naturally, reinforcing diversity and interaction between institutions. Developed in dialogue with local stakeholders, the project frames Cathedral Hill as a long-term, collaborative process, where landscape, architecture, and community participation together shape a resilient and evolving civic ground.