Transformation of Plaça de Sant Miquel

About the city. Barcelona has strict parking rules. Vehicles could be towed even in the case of minor parking violations.

Goal

The main goal is to organize public space in the city with playgrounds and reorganize traffic and vehicle parking due to the high presence of vehicles in this area. The initiative forms part of the Neighbourhood Plan for Gòtic Sud, aimed at combating inequalities.

Implementation period. Work on the project began in April 2019 and was completed at the end of 2020.

Fact

Pere Cabrera designed the Nas bench and the Crown planter. There were projects to improve public space in Barcelona as well.

Solutions

Architect Pere Cabrera designed Plaça de Sant Miquel which is 4,317 square meters of surface space.

What are the features?

• Different spaces and features offering intergenerational, creative and recreational use were installed following the criteria in the municipal government’s “Playable City” measure.

• The surface space for the play area has been more than doubled. Therefore, the space for the game has become more large-scale and functional.

• A sandbox was installed and more plants and trees were planted.

• The most tricky point was the removal of the motorcycle parking lot. Vehicles are not allowed to park in the centre of the square, while loading and unloading (by time bands) has been shifted to C/ Gegants along with the Bicing station. Parking for vehicles used by people with functional diversity is in C/ Templers.

• The lighting quality has been changed. Street lighting matches current energy efficiency requirements, as do the drainage system, new technologies, garden props and renewed paving.

Before

After

Team

Barcelona City Council.

Timeline

The change in the area began in 1979 when the residents’ association held the annual festival in the square to reclaim it as a place for local people and object against it being used for parking. Finally, the project was implemented and involved an investment of 2,166,000 euros.

If you notice an error or inaccuracy in our editorials, please email [email protected] so we can look into it.