Peruvian cockfighting arena transformed into a vibrant garden

An old cockfighting arena received a makeover in Lima, Peru recently.

2.8x Architects have transformed the space so that one wouldn’t guess it had such a dark history. Lush, green foliage and beautiful stone walls now invoke feelings of peace and tranquility.

The space is located in a residential area and the designers have utilized the surrounding landscape efficiently, as the gardens grow flush into the hills. Some of the old stones, steps, and walls of the original coliseum have been repurposed so materials do not go to waste.

There is symbolism in the design, also, as the circular lines and elements of water and stone bring about peaceful meditation and a reverent memorial to the lives lost. The yin and yang symbols are represented as “the equilibrium” of the space and, at night, the gardens become even more stunning when softly illuminated. The entire atmosphere so starkly contrasts the history of violence that it surely has provided a certain green, vibrant rebirth to the area.