Mercado San Martin (San Martin Market), San Sebastian

San Martin Market has a rich history dating back to 1884 when the first pavilion of the food market was inaugurated. The market was designed by architect José de Goicoa, who drew inspiration from the Les Halles de Bayonne. The market underwent several expansions and renovations over the years, with the most significant change happening in 2003 due to new urban needs and demographics.

The San Sebastián City Council decided to demolish the historic building in 2005 to build a new shopping center that would combine tradition and modernity. The new building was designed by architect Luis Uzcanga and features a 1,900 m2 supermarket, leading fashion brands, and leisure and culture spaces, along with traditional market vendors.

The new San Martín market perfectly integrates the advantages of a traditional market and modern shopping centers. The market has a covered pedestrian path and large windows on its facades that symbolize the original character of the building. The project also created a new public space by pedestrianizing three surrounding streets and building an underground car park with 600 spaces to improve accessibility.

The new San Martín market received the "Prize for the best implementation of new integrated commerce formulas" from the Spanish Association of Shopping Centers in 2006 for successfully and profitably recovering an urban space. The market remains a symbol of the social, cultural, and economic evolution of San Sebastian, reflecting numerous architectural changes throughout its history.