Barcelona's Superblocks: Positioning People as Central Focus - Literally and Geographically
Barcelona's War on Cars: Superblocks and Pedestrian-Friendly Streets
A few weeks ago, I had a chat with Barcelona's Office for Urban Ecology about their plan to take on cars—and they're not kidding around. Here's what they've got brewing up to make our city a greener, quieter, and more livable place.
Barcelona's Plan: Superblocks and Pedestrian-Friendly Streets
Prepare for a storm of progress, folks, because this city is gunning for 503 superblocks by 2030. What's more, they're aiming to turn all major avenues into pedestrian-friendly zones. Ambitious? You bet. But it's the Barcelona way—innovative urban practices freqently set the bar high.
Superblocks: Where Walking Takes Over
Superblocks, you ask? Let me fill you in. Take nine blocks on a 3x3 grid, cut off the inner streets to cars, and divert traffic to the outer ones. Boom! You've got yourself a superblock that's reclaiming urban space without taking up any additional land.
Now, when architect Salvador Rueda first proposed this idea back in 1987, he called it "super-manzanas" (super apples, for us non-Spanish speakers). In this city of apple-shaped blocks, they're a perfect fit.
Gracia: The Birthplace of Superblocks
You won't find superblocks just anywhere, but Barcelona's unique grid layout makes it the perfect host. The first experiments took place in Gracia, using tactical urbanism (installing temporary, cheaper infrastructure for urban transformations) to see the impact.
The results were promising, and the first real superblock emerged in Poblenou. Now, only a handful of superblocks roam the streets, but the plan is to bring 503 more to the city.
Sant Antoni: One Neighborhood's Superblock Transformation
Wondering how these superblocks are changing the city? Take Sant Antoni, a neighborhood where a superblock was implemented in 2017.
The results? In just two years, air quality improved, noise reduced, traffic decreased, and people started living more freely. Sant Antoni saw levels of NO drop by 33%, noise decrease by 4dB, and vehicle usage decrease by 92% with little increase in traffic in neighboring streets. Simply put, the cars started "evaporating" as people chose to drive less.
Avinguda Meridiana: Superblocks on the Move
But that's not all, folks. Superblocks aren't just about grid-shaped cities. Take Avinguda Meridiana, a massive six-lane highway that's getting a superblock makeover. The plan is to turn it into a walkable path flanked by car lanes, bike lanes, and wide street-level sidewalks. The result? A safe, clean, and livable space that offers the same benefits of reducing noise, improving air quality, and promoting safety.
Glories Park: The City's Second Largest Green Space
Get ready to breathe easier, Barcelona dwellers, because Glories Park is on the rise. Once one of the busiest and most dangerous intersections in the city, it's now set to become the city's second-largest park. The cars? Off to the underground this time. The improvements don't stop at one park—they're coming in phases, with a smaller green area already in place, set to expand into the bigger green area when construction is complete.
Urban Ecology's Transparency Efforts
Where Barcelona stands out from the crowd is its commitment to transparency. The Office for Urban Ecology is offering a sneak peek into all current and future projects, so you can see for yourself how our city is transforming for the better. Check out their website for an extensive gallery of superblocks and other interventions.
Wrapping Up
From humble beginnings in the Eixample district to the ambitious plans we see now, Barcelona's history is rich with innovative urban practices. With a superblock approach that puts people at the heart of the city, it's no wonder this Mediterranean gem keeps setting the standard for sustainable urban living.
Enjoy the transformation, Barcelona! The city is becoming a greener, cleaner, and more livable place, and the future has never looked brighter.
In the pursuit of a greener and more livable Barcelona, the city aims to create 503 superblocks by 2030, transforming major avenues into pedestrian-friendly zones. These superblocks, like the one in Sant Antoni, have been shown to improve air quality, reduce noise, and decrease traffic, making home-and-garden spaces more enjoyable and lifestyle more sustainable. Additionally, urban spaces such as Glories Park are being redesigned to become larger green areas, further enhancing the city's home-and-garden appeal and overall lifestyle.
