Barcelona Superblocks
Liberated streets, and vibrant cities—superblocks ignite urban metamorphosis.
Revolutionizing urban life, Barcelona's superblocks break free from the chokehold of cars and pollution—unlocking vibrant, green, and connected communities. This is the dawn of the superblock era—a renaissance for cities and humanity.
What is a Superblock
Superblocks, known as "Superilles" in the Catalan language, embody Barcelona's innovative approach to reshaping its urban environment. This design concept restructures street clusters, giving priority to people on foot, bike riders, and community spaces—all while curbing car traffic. Each superblock is larger than a single block, but not as extensive as an entire neighborhood, typically spanning 400 x 400 meters.
At the heart of a superblock, inner streets become havens for pedestrians, closed to passing vehicles. The surrounding perimeter streets continue to welcome car traffic. Within the superblock's bounds, vehicles access only for specific purposes—residential entry, public transit, aiding those with disabilities, emergencies, and leisurely biking. Cars travel one-way and adhere to a 10 km/hour speed cap.
These changes unlock a world of possibilities—playgrounds, greenery, seating, and communal areas. Here, social bonds flourish, and neighborhoods come to life. Superblocks champion community, sustainable transit, and harmony with nature by taming traffic, nurturing plant life, and embracing inclusivity.
People first, cars second—this guiding ethos shines through in the superblock initiative. Accessibility, ease of walking, and eco-friendly travel are paramount. The voices of residents and businesses shape the journey, their insights steering the planning stages.
The Urban Mobility Plan of Barcelona 2013-2018 lit the spark for the superblock movement, envisioning a citywide network of 503 superblocks. The blueprint includes pedestrian-only zones, biking paths, and seamless public transit.
Despite facing hurdles—shopkeepers' objections and gentrification fears—superblocks stand out as a beacon of urban planning excellence. They promise a future where cities breathe, communities thrive, and every resident belongs.
The History of Superblocks
The concept of superblocks in Barcelona emerged as a response to the challenges of urban congestion, vehicular pollution, and the need for public spaces to foster social interaction and sustainable mobility.
The Born Superblock (1993):
El Born, Barcelona, Spain 12/06/2020
The first superblock in Barcelona was implemented in 1993 in the historic Born neighborhood. This early implementation aimed to pedestrianize certain streets and create public spaces where residents and visitors could gather and socialize. However, the implementation of the superblock in Born had unintended consequences. The neighborhood experienced rapid gentrification, leading to the displacement of middle-class shops and local businesses. As property values rose, the area attracted more upscale establishments and tourism-related businesses. Public spaces within the superblock became dominated by tourists, and the character of the neighborhood shifted. The Born superblock was described by some as a "theme park," where the original residents' needs were overshadowed by the interests of tourists and commercial enterprises. This experience highlighted the importance of careful planning and community involvement in the implementation of superblocks to avoid exacerbating social and economic disparities.
The Gracia Superblocks (2003):
Gràcia, Barcelona, Spain 12/06/2020
A decade later, in 2003, Barcelona implemented the second and third superblocks in the Gracia neighborhood. Gracia is known for its vibrant community life, narrow streets, and historic squares. The implementation of superblocks in Gracia focused on reducing vehicular traffic and creating shared spaces for pedestrians, cyclists, and local residents. To achieve this, some streets within the superblocks were physically cut off to through traffic, and the pavement level on most streets was raised to be even with sidewalks. This design created shared access spaces where pedestrians and cyclists could move freely and safely.
Additionally, speed limits were reduced within the superblocks, and one-way through streets were eliminated to discourage fast driving and reduce traffic volume. These changes altered drivers' habits and encouraged more people to walk, cycle, or use public transport.
The Gracia superblocks demonstrated the potential benefits of the superblock model, including improved air quality, reduced noise pollution, enhanced safety, and the creation of vibrant public spaces for social interaction and leisure. The success of the Gracia superblocks and the lessons learned from the Born superblock informed the city's future urban planning efforts.
Since then, the concept of superblocks has continued to evolve, with a more comprehensive approach to urban mobility and community participation. The city's Urban Mobility Plan, adopted in 2013, envisioned the creation of hundreds of superblocks across Barcelona to transform the cityscape and promote sustainable and people-centered urban planning. The superblock model has since gained international recognition as a best practice for urban design, with cities around the world considering similar initiatives to address their urban challenges.
Why Superblocks are Better Than Traditional Blocks
Superblocks stand as a beacon of progressive urban planning, poised to address the multifaceted challenges city-dwellers encounter today. The social, ecological, and health gains stemming from the superblock concept amplify the call for its global integration into urban design.
At the forefront, superblocks champion sustainable and lively transit options. Barcelona's Gracia neighbourhood is a testament to this, witnessing a 10% boost in walking and a staggering 30% surge in cycling following superblock implementation. Vehicle traffic on inner streets fell by 26%, alleviating gridlock and curbing pollution. These outcomes underscore the superblock's prowess in nudging transportation choices toward healthier and greener paths.
Next, superblocks underpin holistic urban mobility schemes that place people above automobiles. Barcelona's bold 2024 Urban Mobility Plan sets its sights on curbing private car journeys to a mere 18.48%, while walking, cycling, and public transit soar to an impressive 81.54%. The roadmap features tangible actions: 32 km of walk-only streets, a 40% bike network extension, and 67 km of new bus lanes. Public transit will see a leap in efficiency, streamlining 94 bus routes to 28, reducing wait times to a swift five minutes, and trimming one-way citywide travel to roughly 35 minutes.
Thirdly, superblocks are catalysts for climate-friendly adaptation. Barcelona's partnership with the European Investment Bank (EIB) unlocks 95 million euros to finance 40 climate-centric projects, rejuvenating 200,000 square meters citywide through the superblock initiative. ISGlobal's study projects a weekly decline of 230,000 private vehicles with 503 envisioned superblocks, as residents embrace eco-conscious transit. The ripple effect? Diminished carbon footprints, cleaner air, and urban resilience.
Lastly, superblocks breathe life into dynamic, inviting, and unified communities. Reclaiming land from vehicles and crafting public havens, superblocks forge spaces for connection, leisure, and togetherness. Residents revel in enhanced life quality with safe, open zones for play, fitness, and camaraderie. Superblocks elevate urban equity—nurturing community ties, mitigating traffic mishaps, and enabling universal accessibility.
Dispelling Counter-Arguments
Restricted car movement will hurt local businesses and reduce their customer base.
Local shopkeepers have voiced apprehension that curbing car access within superblocks could hinder their enterprises by diminishing customer reach. Yet, Barcelona's L’Eixample district reveals a different picture—cars account for a mere 5% of commercial visits, implying most patrons opt for walking, cycling, or public transit. Further bolstering this view is the Gracia neighborhood's experience, where superblock integration spurred a 10% uptick in walking and a 30% leap in cycling. These findings suggest that superblocks may, in fact, draw greater footfall to local shops by cultivating an environment that warmly welcomes pedestrians and cyclists.
L'Eixample, Barcelona, Spain 12/06/2020
Superblocks will lead to gentrification, rising property values, and displacement of current residents.
Worries of gentrification and displacement are valid, and Barcelona's city leaders have taken proactive steps to tackle them. For instance, they strategically launched pilot projects in locales with social housing, thereby sidestepping discrimination between affluent and underprivileged areas. Additionally, the city aspires to distribute superblocks citywide, cultivating equality and circumventing wealth clustering. Crucial to this vision is a holistic policy that safeguards the affordability of green zones and averts their transformation into exclusive enclaves. By doing so, the city ensures that superblocks' advantages are within reach for all residents.
Superblocks will increase traffic congestion on perimeter streets and inconvenience residents.
Although rerouting traffic to perimeter streets raises apprehension, the evidence underscores superblocks' efficacy in curbing overall vehicle presence. In Gracia, superblocks' implementation culminated in a 26% drop in interior street traffic. Barcelona's forward-looking 2024 Urban Mobility Plan targets shrinking private car travel to 18.48% from 26.04%, while elevating walking, cycling, and public transit to 81.54% by 2024. Reinforcing this trend, ISGlobal's study forecasts a weekly reduction of 230,000 private vehicles as residents embrace greener transit, made possible by the planned 503 superblocks. These behavioral shifts in transit will diminish total traffic and pave the way for a sustainable and streamlined urban mobility network.
Superblocks will inconvenience residents who rely on cars for their daily commutes and activities.
The superblock blueprint curtails through traffic, yet it preserves vital vehicle access. Within superblocks, cars are permitted for residential entry, public transit support, disability assistance, and emergencies. Superblocks also amplify diverse transit choices, championing revamped bus and metro systems, broadened bike routes, and inviting walkways. Barcelona's Urban Mobility Plan encapsulates these endeavors, with 32 km of car-free streets, a 40% bike network extension, and 67 km of bus lanes in the pipeline. Elevated public transit offerings and walkability empower residents with feasible and accessible car substitutes, diminishing reliance on private vehicles.
Conclusion
In the quest to reshape urban spaces and address the intricate hurdles of contemporary cities, Barcelona's superblock model emerges as a visionary solution. By uplifting pedestrians and cyclists, revitalizing public realms, and endorsing eco-conscious transit, superblocks hold the promise to redefine our urban experiences.
Barcelona's superblocks boast a host of positive strides—augmented foot and bike travel, eased vehicular congestion and emissions, and enriched community cohesion and involvement. Furthermore, the superblock endeavor harmonizes with grander ambitions of combatting climate change, fortifying public health, and advancing equitable city development.
Implementing superblocks brings its share of complexities, including apprehensions about local commerce, gentrification, and traffic navigation. Yet, Barcelona's journey illustrates that meticulous planning, open dialogue, and community inclusivity can adeptly address these quandaries.
As global cities wrestle with gridlock, pollution, and vanishing public areas, superblocks offer invaluable wisdom for urban visionaries and decision-makers. By championing superblock tenets and elevating people above cars, cities can cultivate flourishing, robust communities that enrich all inhabitants.
Barcelona's superblock legacy kindles optimism for a future where cities become more than mere dwellings and workplaces—they transform into nexuses of social ties, ecological stewardship, and human fulfillment. The superblock paradigm embodies the metamorphic capacity of urban design, igniting the hope for a sustainable and radiant tomorrow for cities worldwide.