Barcelona Superblocks

We continue with the 15 minutes city concepts, many of which align with the values of the NEB, as can be demonstrated by the Barcelona superblocks initiative.

The implementation of the superblocks program to change Barcelona’s urban model was submitted to the New European Bauhaus awards as a completed project.

Both the ‘superblock’ and the ‘15-minute city’ are built on the idea of proximity to activities and services. The implementation of the superblocks programme is part of an ongoing process of improving and transforming the public space in order to prioritise people over cars with a focus on pedestrianisation and accessibility, and to engage community participation in the process. The project aims to:

• recover space for the community
• improve biodiversity
• moves towards sustainable mobility
• encourages social cohesion.

Superblocks: How Barcelona is taking city streets back from cars

Citizen participation

The programme has been implemented with the participation of local residents, associations, organisations and groups, as well as City Council experts and technicians. Participation is open to anyone through meetings, events, activities and workshops, as well as the decidim.barcelona platform.

In each district where the programme is being implemented, a driving group has been set up to monitor the project. The group acts as a link between the technical team and residents, validating the different stages and helping to define the participation spaces, the outcomes of the participation workshops and the technical work carried out.

What needs to be taken into account when planning cities for people?

What we can observe from these initiatives is the importance of urban planning and design that incorporates the multi dimensional goals of sustainable, inclusive and aesthetics. Each of these frameworks have unique elements that inform and compliment the NEB vision to support the goals of the European Green Deal as well as providing information toolkits for project design.

Further reading

If you would like to read further about some of the concepts we have covered, the following resource is optional.

How Barcelona is transforming into a playable city