Portos de Galicia, through a public competition, commissioned us to design an object that would identify the Maritime Way of the Camino de Santiago for the Xacobeo 2021, culminating in the celebration of the Feast of Saint James the Apostle on 25 July.
As passionate enthusiasts of the sea and sailing, this commission became something very special for us. From the outset, we felt that we should move away from the traditional figurative approach and design a useful object that would also encourage reflection.
The first sketches explored the idea of designing a bench or daybed that could provide orientation along the route and, through its sculptural character, invite us to contemplate the many undulating courses that the sea offers towards a single destination.
We began with straight forms and gradually developed a curved piece that also evokes the coastline of Galicia, the profile of its mountains and rivers flowing into the sea, and the routes themselves, which enter Galicia through winding curves as they adapt to the landscape and topography.
Finally, the design was refined into a simple and elegant line that could also be extrapolated into a pin or logo identifying Galicia and the Maritime Way.
