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Work has begun on the long-anticipated installation of the ‘Teselas’ shade system along Calle del Carmen in Cartagena. The project is designed to provide maximum sun protection without covering or hiding the historic facades of the buildings - something which caused uproar a couple of years ago.

 

According to experts, the system could lower the ambient temperature on the street by as much as six degrees.

 

Last Tuesday, workers started anchoring the system’s supports to unprotected building facades and specially installed posts. The process ensures no heritage-protected buildings are altered. The first phase will begin at the Plaza del Icue end of the street, with the goal of covering around one-third of the route this month.

 

The company Pegiro is responsible for carrying out the installation.

 

Although the shade system was originally planned to be in place by June, issues with the documentation submitted by the bidding company meant the tender had to be reissued. This led to a delay in starting the work.

 

The current phase will act as a pilot, allowing the City Council to assess how the system functions and how well it integrates visually before extending it further along the street.

 

The name ‘Teselas’ comes from the small pieces used in mosaics. The shade structure reflects that concept through a modular roof made from rhomboid textile panels that create a suspended mosaic effect. This design allows sunlight to be filtered without blocking views of the surrounding architecture.

 

Before beginning the work, Pegiro carried out a detailed study of sunlight and shade patterns along Calle del Carmen to determine how many panels were needed and where they should be placed for the best coverage.

 

The ‘Teselas’ system is designed to be modular and reversible so it can be adapted to the needs of different streets. In Calle del Carmen, which is almost 300 metres long and home to lots of shops and other businesses, the installation will serve as a test case.

 

If successful, the City Council intends to expand the system to other streets within Cartagena’s Old Town, offering more shaded, cooler spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy.

 

 

Image: Ayuntamiento de Cartagena