OK, now lets look for the metro entrance. but what's that over there? just steps away we were really surprised.
vast open public space at the first glance all devoted to pedestrians, few minor streets were visible from our standpoint. slowly all the magnitude of the content, attention to details and recognition of social urban needs was revealed. it took me a second walk, few days latter, to completely comprehend the urban value of this renewal project.
.................walk performed on august, 15 and 21, 2009.
| :: opening page :: |
| :: urbansquares art :: |
| :: activities :: documentation :: |
| :: who we are :: contact us :: |
| :: our photo blog :: our blog :: |
| :: network :: site map :: |
| :: home :: |
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:: ..c l a s s i f i c a t i o n ... s y s t e m.. ::
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sociability
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10
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more about the evaluation method :: |
ceremonial
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x
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more about the types of squares :: |
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uses & activities
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10
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religious
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x
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access & linkages
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10
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social
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x
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comfort
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10
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residential
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x
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image
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10
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court yard
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tourist value
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10
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with park
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x
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total
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60
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street, shopping
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the mediator was brought because she was a professional and had recognition from her work in girona (where she was given an award for her service). her main approach was based on creating a "participatory" process. in her words: "spain is far from the level of citizen participation (of switzerland for example) but they are trying, they are making declarations of intentions. in my case its not this way, its not a declaration of intentions, it’s the only way I do things, I don’t know how to do them in another way. the reality is that there is very little maturity (politically), residents arguments are not real, they are based mostly in fear. the "left uses a lot of words, but do very little. between the "lefts" which are not so credible and the "rights which tends to simplify, there is the truth. the citizen has a very poor level of political education. they have the impulse to organize, to make claims, but they are not good at speaking, at participating politically. it’s desire that the citizens feel implicated in the city government, that they realize that in the end the government and the city don’t do anything other than what the citizens ask for, so its to establish our complicity with the citizens, to remake this complicity". we will elaborate about this very interesting cooperation later in this text.
lead architect, albert viaplana had a long previous experience with number of urban projects. he is one of the architects that has left significant traces in contemporary barcelona. his architecture, which some define as a minimalist, is undeniably not indifferent. [see CCCB space on plaça dels angels in our collection] what he was facing here was a great challenge.
being so close to the very traditional and preserved environment of former independent city of gracia [visit our portrait of the square in the gracia district] involvement and interest of the neighbourhood is understandable. all along the planning process, during the construction and especially after opening of the square in april 2009 criticism, suggestions and occasionally even frustration was expressed. most of the "calling for action" and proposals are taken in consideration and implemented. I would really like to show you [with follow up photos and explanation] amount of observation and scrutiny and, of course, effort from the designers and city officials to meet needs of the concerned citizens. the other aspect of the successful urban renewal project is every day utilization. sights recorded on my several visits to this square will proof that the joint effort of the community and planners is showing results that can serve as an example how problems of public placa of this size and complicated needs can be solved to the satisfaction and benefit to all.
seats are positioned very smartly in groups, slightly turned to each other, or in some cases away from each other. need for privacy is also taken in consideration.
"shared culture is also referred to as intangible cultural capital, which has been described as “ideas, traditions and customs shared by a group of people,” including intellectual capital. a diverse, cohesive community is one where each citizen’s ideas, traditions, and customs are shared with the collective, and sometimes re-invented together. in the resulting mosaic, the different cultures and generations making up the community are respected, leading to social cohesion and, often, an important sense of individual comfort. Participatory arts is an enormously useful tool in the community building process." this quote is from the presentation "local models of participatory art" by ljiljana simic (1). she continues: "by social creativity they understand the energy, ideas, and experiences that arise from citizens. social creativity makes conflict visible, strengthens the sentiment of belonging to a community, and opens the possibility of creating viable alternatives. for that reason, we consider it necessary to value and support these initiatives confirming their role within the transformation/construction of the city."
even thou new plaça lesseps, with all the excitement and obvious love [expressed by how neighbourhood is using it], started with intensive conflict, required mediator to proceed, imposed significant changes to the initial plans and serious rethinking by the professional part of the planning team, it is leaving strong mental impact to the urban enthusiasts [like myself]. community is still alert, organized, very protective of their success and very vocal about what was expected but not there jet. it is encouraging similar initiatives elsewhere in barcelona, spain and EU. what we can learn from this process is how essential this participatory approaches are.
association of residents and commercial space users of the plaça lesseps is very active in shaping the final stage of the area and if you are interested you can follow their activities on their official website [http://www.avclesseps.cat]. of course site is only on catalan language. most interesting part [in my opinion is ecological map [http://www.mapaecologic.net] covering public usage, traffic, future development and population, waste, energy and water usage and other environmental activities. this part is available on english.
"discovery of participation as one of the priorities within development has led to the search for means to promote it. some donors have sought to use participatory development projects and programmes to strengthen civic associations and create new mechanisms through which state institutions can be held responsible for their actions. it is in this light that the participation and governance debates have led donors to collaborate with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs), and to support locally derived solutions to poverty alleviation and “sustainable development”.[2]
"participatory urbanism builds upon a large body of related projects where citizens act as agents of change. there is a long history of such movements from grassroot neighborhood watch campaigns to political revolutions. our primary motivation from an urban standpoint comes from the insights of leading urban practitioners such as jason coburn, jane jacobs, and the sociologist ulrich beck. our work leverages coburn’s “street science” framework which emphasizes local urban insights to improve scientific inquiry and environmental health policy and decision making. coburn underscores the importance of local (community) knowledge as “the scripts, images, narratives, and understandings we use to make sense of the world in which we live”. [3]
as a conclusion I would like to quote o. solovieva's article "barcelona dream: plaça ferdinand de lesseps" published in daily blogzine on culture, politics and academic life: "while stepping firmly and safely over the plaza’s dancing double-deck in happy fulfillment of my long-cherished desire for the urban sublime, I was contemplating the audaciousness of spanish architects which can be observed everywhere in barcelona. from gaudí’s cave-like, organic buildings to viaplana’s stormy plaza, urban planning here is not calculated to insulate culture from nature, as is the case in most european cities, but rather the other way around: it is meant to challenge the safe notion of culture, with its geometrical and symmetrical forms, by imitation of the unwieldy elements. barcelona’s urban landscape is sublime by definition. in awe of the dark play of the elements, this culture does not shy away from facing and subduing them at the very limit of the destructive. the audacity of barcelona’s urban spaces attests to profound spiritual security and rationality, to a mentality that is not afraid to be challenged."
that's why plaça lesseps deserves perfect score in my evaluation system. plaça is more than simple urban square equal to others. it is combining values and functions of the higher level. urban life is reaching level of ultimate integration of needs and achievements, environmental health and well-being of both local citizens and their government representatives.
as mentioned before very heavy traffic was main reason for this renewal process. 120.000 vehicles are traversing this square daily. 12 bus and two metro lines and 20.000 pedestrians.
auditorium, small stage with the stands for couple of hundred of neighbours, was created on the west side of the plaça. it is used for local celebrations, performances, fiestas....
it is additionaly used as a gathering spot for groups of local youth. it is separated from the main pedestrian passageways, ideal for teens to exchange "hot" local news. it is even silent enough for evening nap [notice the young lady, sleeping in the top left corner of the photo with the person in red t-shirt bellow right.
most pleasant part of the day for this game is, of course evening and night so they are equipped with very efficient lighting system. it is mainly popular with older population but while courts are without players it is ideal space to meet your companions from younger generation.
there are two playgrounds one on each side of the square. favorite among locals, is one beside the church. it is always full of children and watchful parents. it looks to me that grand parents are main caretakers?
most complains in the process of revitalization of plaça lesseps and after it was finished was insufficiency of greenery. it is very understandable that this is main concern, during the day in summer months when temperature is reaching 35˚C! of course this will come with time. one of the problems that planting large trees over the tunnel with limited options is impossible. some of the hanging gardens, are cleverly planted in those areas. some park like areas with water features, one even crossing the street and bringing the pleasant sound of running water, are everywhere.
I hope that over time trees will grow bigger and even more of them are going to be planted.
nobody is forgotten. pets have their own area, lot of grass, water and their owners place to enjoy chat with the fellow dog lovers.
to my surprise elevators for disable people or people with kids, strollers or elderly are in the middle of the open space [photo above] making it very convenient to get where you are going.
remarkably even the view to the distant, famous tibidabo hill with the church and impressive jesus monument on the top is not blocked and it is clearly visible from the square [two photos bellow].
[2]. Diana Mitlin and John Thompson, Participatory approaches in urban areas: strengthening civil society or reinforcing the status quo, Environment and Urbanization 1995; 7; 231 [p233]
[3]. Eric Paulos, Ian Smith, R. J. Honicky: RE: REempower and REcycle, Carnegie Mellon University, Year 2007.
