Barcelona’s creative approach to urbanization
- Adam Mensch
- Jan 2
- 3 min read
Barcelona is a bustling city with over 1.62 million inhabitants. During the growth of this metropolitan city Barcelona has experienced a lot of problems including congestion and traffic problems, thus a need for a solution was needed. In this short article regarding the intricate designs of Barcelona, the solution to these problems will be discussed from an urban planning perspective, and the methods and solutions some of the most genius urban planners have come up with to combat these problems facing Barcelona will be explained.
The Cerdá Plan was what started it all, during the 1860s planners had a plan to expand the city of Barcelona with what's known as a Hippodamus plan. Ildefons Cerdà’s idea of having a grid layout throughout the city was later approved by the Spanish government and construction began. Initially designed to combat the challenges posed by rapid urbanization, during the early 2000s Barcelona had faced growing issues with traffic congestion, severe noise pollution, and increased reliance on cars, the narrow streets and dense layout of the city were not making it any better. Keep in mind the plan was originally designed for foot traffic, and struggled under the weight of the modern vehicle. In addition to this there were limited green spaces and residents were often pushed to the periphery by the dominance of cars, all these factors contributed to the decline in quality of life in Barcelona, hence pressing a need for an innovative solution.
That is where Salvador Rueda comes in, an urban planner who transformed the old congested layout into what's known today as the “superilla” model. The core idea of this layout is to group the previously built city blocks into groups of nine transforming it into a larger “superblock” and restricting car traffic to only the outer perimeter, leaving the interior free for cyclists, pedestrians, and local residents. These inner streets were also redesigned with green belts and green infrastructure to significantly reduce the urban heat island effect, redistributing space, creating vibrant public areas, filled with playgrounds, markets, community events, and spaces for relaxation. From an environmental perspective the superblock model is a clear winner. By limiting cars and expanding on green spaces, Barcelona's urban planners have created an eco-friendly design that supports sustainable city growth.
The superblocks model has not only helped Barcelona environmentally, it has also given a positive social impact, as these superblocks have transformed the streets into safe and vibrant communities, hence encouraging social interaction and outdoor activities, by doing so the local residents can raise children in a safe environment. Moreover, economically, super blocks boost local businesses by increasing foot traffic and creating more attractive neighbourhoods. Even though some businesses initially feared losing car-dependent customers, the long-term benefits include higher property values, better public health, and lower infrastructure costs, proving that superblocks or “superilla’s” were the right choice.
Over all, Barcelona's square neighbourhood layout is a creative solution to the challenges of urbanization, traffic and pollution, and by reducing car dependency, improving and expanding green spaces, and promoting community inclusion, Barcelona has provided the world with an idea of how sustainable urban development looks like. As cities all over the world continue to urbanize and begin to face the consequences of rapid urban growth, hopefully Barcelona's superblocks model can stand as a role model for future urban planners!