Colours of the Coast

Rosa Ceño Elie-Joseph’s project, Colours of the Coast, was awarded First Prize in the OJA Gardening Competition by AMJA “for its creativity, sustainability, plant selection, project complexity, aesthetic appeal, and contextual adaptation.” The 70 plant species withstand saline water and the harsh Levantine winds.

Executed between January 2021 and June 2022, Ceño’s project embodies her environmental philosophy through the design of low-water, low-maintenance gardens that deliver ecosystem services aimed at mitigating climate change via green infrastructure. The approach incorporates biocontrol—avoiding chemical products in green areas—and the New Paradigm of Green Infrastructure, recognising the natural capital of urban and peri-urban forests as a tool for climate mitigation and citizen health enhancement. Each designed space is allocated resources proportionate to the ecosystem services it generates, a correlation measurable with technological tools such as ARIES, INVEST, or i-Tree.

Colours of the Coast is divided into nine areas inspired by the works of nine artists, reflecting the cultural diversity of the community: Gauguin, Monet & Degas (France), Mondrian & Van Gogh (Netherlands), Magritte (Belgium), Turner (UK), Picasso (Spain), and Hopper (USA).

The plants’ colours act as our brushstrokes, creating balanced “sustainability paintings.” Initially, nine spaces were defined with grasses over a rectangular terrain, with interior planting following the chosen colour scheme. Colours arise from flowers, leaves, or fruits, ensuring chromatic interest throughout the year, peaking in spring and summer.