2024 Reports

The Superblock Programme in Barcelona

Avila-Palencia, Ione; Lutzu, Jole

The superblock model is an intervention aiming to reclaim space for people, reduce motorized transport, promote sustainable mobility and active lifestyles, provide urban greening, and mitigate the effects of climate change. The original idea was to take nine city blocks and close them internally to through traffic. Due to issues such as the traffic congestion poorly redistributed in the roads outside of the block, the model was optimized working for green “axes” instead of blocks. Between 2013 and 2018, in areas such as Poblenou, Horta and Sant Antoni, Superblocks were implemented. Multi-stakeholder decision-making processes have been formalized in local, regular working groups that are steering the design for their Superblocks in many neighborhoods. After having a controversial lack of participation processes in Poblenou, the municipality realized the model needs to be adapted to local particularities. Superblocks are currently being implemented in several cities in the world. However, they can still encounter some barriers and present negative effects that could limit their development and effectiveness. Future research should evaluate potential consequences such as the increasing risk and effects of gentrification and the current housing crisis.