Speaker
Description
Broader research frame setting the stage
Urban public spaces are under significant pressure due to acute scarcity, unequal accessibility, and insufficient versatility, leading to a lack of opportunities for human encounters and complicating solutions to environmental, climate, and health-related challenges. Moreover, the deficiency of green public spaces particularly impacts the socio-economically most vulnerable populations (Anguelovski et al., 2018; Konijnendijk, 2018; Low, 2006; Rees, 1997; Sauer, 1925). In response to these challenges, cities around the globe are proposing new ‘paradigmatic’ concepts to radically transform urban public spaces from monotechnic car-dominated infrastructures to polyvalent people-centred public places (Mumford 1938), serving a broad spectrum of sustainable development goals (Sennet, 2019). Frequently cited examples that inspire policy mobility in cities worldwide include Medellín’s Social Urbanism (Maclean, 2015), New York’s Street Fight (Sadik-Khan and Solomonow, 2016), Barcelona’s Superblocks (Rueda, 2019), and Paris’ 15-Minute City (Moreno, 2020). However, between the conception of the paradigm and its realisation lies a challenging implementation process, during which both the level of ambition and the initially set – sometimes conflicting – goals inevitably come under pressure (Chombart de Lauwe, 1964; Cohen, 2017; Gössling, 2020).
Article abstract
This case study examines the design and implementation process of Barcelona's ambitious and highly debated Superblock concept. The iconic spatial figure of a Superblock consists of the aggregation of three-by-three building blocks into a car-lee qualitative and liveable public space, aiming to serve as a building stone for city-wide transformation. Design experts initially advocated a rapid and systemic roll-out, using tactical urbanism, on a large scale to achieve promising social, environmental, and health-related goals (Mueller et al., 2019; Rueda, 2019). However, a profound shift emerged during the iterative implementation process, from the ‘archetypal’ model at the neighbourhood scale to a ‘green axes and squares’ model at the grid scale and from branding tactical urbanism to striving for structural interventions (Honey-Rosés, 2023; Magrinyà, 2023).
This article unfolds how and why the concept design evolves during its iterative implementation process and how this affects its potential transformative impact. The investigation employs a mixed-methods case study approach, including a graphical analysis of concept evolutions based on a study of policy documents and site observation, as well as expert and elite interviews that provide insight into the arguments and perceptions during the implementation process.
As a travelling concept, the Superblocks have inspired similar initiatives worldwide, such as Supermanzanas in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Kiezblocks in Berlin, Supergrätzl in Vienna (Aumann et al., 2023), and have been introduced in New York (The New York Times, 2016), several Latin-American capitals (Rueda, 2019), and Los Angeles (Li and Wilson, 2023). However, all sources predominantly refer to the initial archetypal Superblock concept, while little to no reference is made to the agile implementation process and subsequent conceptual evolutions in Barcelona over the past decade. This analysis offers insights for planners and policymakers worldwide on adopting similar transformative concepts to achieve disruptive change within their urban contexts.
References
Anguelovski, I., Honey-Rosés J., Marquet O. (2023). Equity concerns in transformative planning. Barcelona’s Superblocks under scrutiny. Cities & Health 7(6): 950-958.
Gössling, S. (2020). Why cities need to take road space from cars - and how this could be done. Journal of Urban Design, 25:4, 2020: 443-448.
Honey-Rosés, J. (2023a). Barcelona’s superblocks as spaces for research and experimentation. The Journal of Public Space, 8(2), 1–20.
Low, S. (2006). The Politics of Public Space. New York and London: Routledge.
Magrinyà, F., et al. (2023). Merging green and active transportation infrastructure towards equitable accessibility to green areas: Barcelona green axes. Land, 12(4), Article 919.
Mueller, N. et al. (2020). Changing the urban design of cities for health: The superblock model. Environment International, 134, 105132.
Mumford, L. (1938). The Culture of Cities. New York: Harcourt.
Rees, W. E. (1997). “Is 'sustainable city' an Oxymoron?” Local Environment, 2: 3, 1997: 303-310.
Rueda, S. (2019). Superblocks for the Design of New Cities and Renovation of Existing Ones: Barcelona's Case. Integrating Human Health into Urban and Transport Planning. Springer: 135–153.
Sennett, R. (2019). Building and dwelling: Ethics for the city. London: Penguin Books.
| Keywords | Transformative urbanism, car-free public space, concept evolution, iterative implementation process |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
