Beginning in the 1960s and 1970s, a process of urbanism shaped the character of the city, especially the suburbs situated outside the Rondas, which encircle the city centre of Barcelona. Not only do the Rondas serve infrastructural purposes, but they, as well, draw a clear boarder between the areas which belong to the vibrant city centre and those which do not. In doing so they function in some how as a kind of modern city walls.
With the constructions of new housing complexes in the periphery of Barcelona the administration intended to provide new living space. This was dedicated to the growing number of people coming to the city as well as to those of the resettlements.
The Neighbourhood of Nou Barris, through which we are walking during our itenerary, not only includes areas with clear traces of Barraquismo like Torre Baró and Carmel, but, as well, the manifestation of this era of urban planning. Examples could be Ciutat Meridiana, which is situated behind the mountain of Torre Baró - we could see it clearly from the castle. It is a huge complex of high buildings, which was built in the 1970s to provide housing for over 11000 inhabitants. The plan included as well all the infrastructure, which was necessary like schools, parks and sports facilities.
Another new constructed area is La Guineueta, where the administration started in 1956 to build the first blocs. In 1964 the first poligons followed. The intention of the creation of this area was the generation of new housing space, especially, for young families with children, dedicated to growing number of people from Catalonia, Andalusia, Castile and Galicia. Passing the area around the Ronda de Dalt on our way to Carmel, we can easily recognize the results of this process of urban planning, which was not restricted to the 1960s and 1970s but steadily continued.
A very interesting example is the Parc Central de Nou Barris, which is situated in La Guineueta. It represents, as well, the other aspect of he urban planning beside the housing itself: the creation of open space. The park itself is relatively new. Its first phase was implemented in 1999 and the third was finished in 2007.
Now it is the second largest park in Barcelona covering an area of 17,7 hectare including several types of infrastructure like the library of Nou Barris and the police office of the Guardia Civil. It won the International Urban Landscape Award 2007 for sustainability and innovation for its concept. The three phases of its plan aimed to create an open space for people's daily use with a huge part of green area, to provide important facilities and integrate the surrounding buildings.
Significant for the whole project are the aims connected to sustainability and preservation: the creation of a green corridor, the function as water accumulator and, furthermore, the integration and preservation of traditional and antique buildings in the whole complex.
This we can see clearly in the part, which is a stop of our itinerary. Here the combination of old, the aqueducts, with new elements is very obvious. At the same time, it is to serve as an open space for the people, for cultural and social activity. For example, it was used as a venue of the Barcelona Blues Festival.However, when we have a look at this part nowadays, focusing on the use in everyday life, we recognize that, despite all the afford of construction it is, as well, a representative for an urban planning, which does not really fit the peoples needs. The park seems empty and kind of abandoned, which proves that its actual usage is not really fulfilling the intended purpose.
That might be caused by the lack of legibility concerning the people (for more information see Oriol's text), the inability to identify with the housing space, which was actually designed for them, but without them. Ironically, this is the clear contrast compared to the people's identification with buildings and neighbourhoods they constructed themselves, like in the case of self-constucted housing.
Cap comentari:
Publica un comentari a l'entrada