Uccrn Education List of Contents
Context & Community Input
Over the past 30 years, Barcelona has seen:
- Rising cost of living
- Increased gentrification displacing long-term residents
- Growing foreign investment and startup presence
- A surge in evictions and a speculative real estate market
Community members have raised concerns about:
- Lack of affordable housing and basic services
- Office development outpacing residential needs
- “Green gentrification” and unbalanced public space use
- A 9-to-5 neighbourhood that lacks life beyond work hours
“Very few facilities for people without money.” – David
“They are building too many offices and not enough housing.” – Victoria
“Rich expats are moving in.” – Marco
Design Philosophy: Seed Neighbourhood
The project applies the metaphor of gardening to urban development:
- Respect community roots and heritage
- Nurture diversity (urban biodiversity)
- Ensure regenerative, resilient growth
Key Urban Design Principles
Green Infrastructure
- Trees and vegetation to combat heat and absorb CO2
- Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) for water management
- Temporary and permanent green spaces (e.g. pop-up gardens)
- Use spontaneous vegetation to reflect post-industrial identity
Energy & Resilience
- Renewable energy at both district and community levels
- Distributed energy systems to reduce energy poverty
- Integration with transport infrastructure for district heating/cooling
Mobility & Accessibility
- Promote walking, cycling and public transit (metro, tram, buses)
- Develop multimodal hubs for transportation and service access
- Enable the 15-minute city concept
Community Services & Livelihoods
- Mixed-use hubs with city-wide appeal
- Social and community infrastructure integrated with green paths
- Identify missing services and co-design with residents
