1. General information
2. Objectives of the intervention
Goals of the intervention
The suspended park of Barcelona was built to cover the train and subway tracks that bothered the residents of the neighbourhoods of Sans and Bordeta with their noise and aggressive visual (Ref 5). Even though the primary goal of the intervention was to redesign the area to make it more appealing and phase the noise challenge of passing trains, the project is focused on the application of plants with architecture in order to create a green space for locals and tourists to enjoy. (Ref 8)
Quantitative targets
Rather than similar designs in New York or Paris, Barcelona’s elevated ‘rambla’ does not take the place of the rail line, but instead hides it with an extruded box that contains over 160 trees and 85,000 plants and shrubs organized into different gardens (Ref 2).
In this space, 162 trees, 665 linear meters of climbing plants and about 85,000 plants and shrubs have been planted (Ref. 9)
21.000 m2 of green roofs were built (Ref 5)
raised green area measured a total of 31,300 m² (Ref 5)
- Air-Clean pavements were used in the park, which are made with substances such as titanium dioxide (TiO2) that in the presence of light radiation -sunlight, collaborate in the neutralization of polluting substances such as nitrogen dioxide, the main component of pollution caused by fossil fuels (Ref. 12)
- The elevated structure manages to reduce noise pollution and environmental degradation (Ref. 12)
In this space, 162 trees, 665 linear meters of climbing plants and about 85,000 plants and shrubs have been planted (Ref. 9)
21.000 m2 of green roofs were built (Ref 5)
raised green area measured a total of 31,300 m² (Ref 5)
- Air-Clean pavements were used in the park, which are made with substances such as titanium dioxide (TiO2) that in the presence of light radiation -sunlight, collaborate in the neutralization of polluting substances such as nitrogen dioxide, the main component of pollution caused by fossil fuels (Ref. 12)
- The elevated structure manages to reduce noise pollution and environmental degradation (Ref. 12)
Monitoring indicators defined
number of trees in the rambla; number of plants and shrubs in the different gardens (Ref 2), linear meters of climbing plants (Ref 9) m2 of green roofs were built (Ref 5); raised green area measured total in m² (ref 5)
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?
Implementation activities
In 23 months, 21.000 m2 of green roofs were built, which ends at Riera Blanca Street with the "Didactic Garden", a space that brings together plants from Barcelona from the 18th century, now rare in the city. The third phase of the work is the most complex and controversial of all, as it involves expropriations of commercial and residential real estate, as well as the future of Can Vies, a building occupied by a social movement. When completed, the raised green area measured a total of 31,300 m² (Ref 5). The importation of an undulating landscape combined with dense vegetation generate spaces in which people get the impression of a ‘rus in urbe’, a refuge of suspended above the busy streets of Barcelona (Ref 7).
- Air-Clean pavements were used in the park, which are made with substances such as titanium dioxide (TiO2) that in the presence of light radiation -sunlight, collaborate in the neutralization of polluting substances such as nitrogen dioxide, the main component of pollution caused by fossil fuels (Ref. 12)
The vegetated corridor is a strategically postioned dense mix of native and exotic tree’s including Tipuana, Sophora, Koeleuteria and Malus “Everest”. The remainder of the planting scheme has been divided into a bright and warm mix of of Bulbine frutescens, Salvia splendens, Rosa acicularis. Hedra helix is used in the exposed areas and its cultivars and Vinca, Gaura and Lantana in the shaded areas, accompanying the north route.
Along the infrastructural facades, climbing plants such as Hedera helix, Trachlospermum jasminoides and Parthenocissus tricuspidata have been positioned on a cable system that will allow them to cover all the facades except the glazed areas.
The importation of an undulating landscape combined with dense vegetation generate spaces in which people get the impression of a ‘rus in urbe’, a refuge of suspended above the busy streets of Barcelona (Ref 7).
- Air-Clean pavements were used in the park, which are made with substances such as titanium dioxide (TiO2) that in the presence of light radiation -sunlight, collaborate in the neutralization of polluting substances such as nitrogen dioxide, the main component of pollution caused by fossil fuels (Ref. 12)
The vegetated corridor is a strategically postioned dense mix of native and exotic tree’s including Tipuana, Sophora, Koeleuteria and Malus “Everest”. The remainder of the planting scheme has been divided into a bright and warm mix of of Bulbine frutescens, Salvia splendens, Rosa acicularis. Hedra helix is used in the exposed areas and its cultivars and Vinca, Gaura and Lantana in the shaded areas, accompanying the north route.
Along the infrastructural facades, climbing plants such as Hedera helix, Trachlospermum jasminoides and Parthenocissus tricuspidata have been positioned on a cable system that will allow them to cover all the facades except the glazed areas.
The importation of an undulating landscape combined with dense vegetation generate spaces in which people get the impression of a ‘rus in urbe’, a refuge of suspended above the busy streets of Barcelona (Ref 7).
Type of NBS project
3. NBS domains, ES and scale
4. Governance and financing
5. Innovation
Type of innovation
Please specify technological innovation
Implementation of green solutions to renovate an already existing grey infrastructure (Ref 1). at Riera Blanca Street is the "Didactic Garden", a space that brings together plants from Barcelona from the 18th century, now rare in the city. (Ref 5)
Novelty level of the innovation
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Many articles compare this intervention to the High Line in New York. The major difference between the two is the fact that while the High Line in New York was built on what used to be train tracks, La Rambla de Sants is built on top of a still active railway, providing benefits in terms of noise reduction and aesthetic improvement of the area (Ref 2, 3, 4 and 5).
Replicability/Transferability
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
6. Evaluation and learning
7. Sources
Please specify other source of non-financial contribution
The names were proposed by entities and associations of Sants, Badal and la Bordeta, and the neighbors from Sants voted to decide (Ref. 10)
