Work

Streets for wider nature

Barcelona is leading the way for making cities liveable for all. There have been several evolutions of the famous Cerda plan for the expansion of the city, lately balancing green space for residents along with mobility, commerce and other urban needs.

At first, in some places as little as 10% of the envelope of the sites have been modified. We have new right of way for pedestrians and bikes, there is new seating and raised garden beds. What was once traffic is now an improvised playground. Today the space won back is now part of the landscape and is ripe for another re-think: What could a vehicle free zone be like and how could it support our health and well-being as a community?

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Proposal

We can do more to further the health and liveability of the city this decade. Some areas like those bordered by Carrer del Consell de Cent are advanced and greenery is established already. In other locations nature is just making a comeback on the land. One of the most well-known sites is found on the southern side of Sant Antoni market along Carrer del Comte Borrell. This strip is a huge improvement for local residents and businesses making use of simply traffic changes, paint and some street furntiture and garden beds. The next phase can go further without taking the familiar landscaping approach (and budget).

Invincible Summer can see a near future for this strip where sidewalks and former roads make way for a network of nature beds and infrastucture for local wildlife that sustains the local ecosystem. Research has shown where nature is returned to streets people live longer and feel wealthier. Every block in the city where we balance limited vehicle access with resident and commercial amenity and a significant increase in natural infrastructure is one that creates a healthier and happier city.

Specifically for this (former) street in Sant Antoni we suggest:

• A mixture of depaving and elevated nature beds where former roads and a surplus of sidewalk exists today
• Introduction of conditions suitable for fast nature development (soil, water, drainage, indigenous seed)
• The placement of habitat boxes and rights of way for local animal species to connect populations across the city
• An overall strategy to draw down carbon and increase biodiversity in the precinct in line with the Barcelona Nature Plan 2030.