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The bold engineering behind Barcelona's urban plan is giving the city back to its people and showing how a city can be designed for the well-being of its residents.
When you look at Barcelona from above, what strikes you most is its unusual urban layout, organized in square blocks. This strange shape, which has long aroused curiosity, actually represents one of the most innovative solutions in urban engineering and architecture. Amid problems faced by many modern cities, such as congestion and pollution, Barcelona has adopted a model that places it at the forefront of a new era of urban mobility and sustainability.
The engineering behind this format not only helps organize space, but also aims to improve the quality of life of its inhabitants. The city is now implementing a series of transformations to reduce traffic and increase green areas, a project inspired by the innovative vision of engineer Ildefons Cerdà, who in the 19th century designed the famous “Cerdà Plan” with the aim of creating a more human and healthy environment.
Ildefons Cerdà's revolutionary engineering plan
In 1854, after the demolition of the city walls, the engineer and urban planner Ildefons Cerdà was tasked with planning the expansion of Barcelona. The idea was to expand the city without compromising the well-being of its inhabitants, at a time when the concept of urban planning was still practically non-existent. Cerdà brought an innovative approach, focused on ventilation and light, aiming to create blocks that provided clean air, light and green areas for residents.
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Cerdà planned a uniform grid of blocks, where residential buildings would be accompanied by recreational and air circulation areas in the center of each block. Rather than privileging certain locations, he took an equitable approach, placing public services and living areas spread throughout the city. This revolutionary engineering anticipated modern problems such as pollution and congestion, seeking to balance urban life with social well-being.
Superquadras: the modern reinvention of an old concept
Today, Barcelona is taking up this proposal again with the so-called “superblocks”, a concept that modernizes Cerdà’s plan and adapts the city to the needs of the 21st century. Superblocks group together nine blocks, where the internal streets are blocked off from heavy traffic and become areas dedicated to pedestrians, cyclists and green spaces. This drastically reduces vehicle traffic, giving urban space back to people and promoting a healthier, more communal environment.
Through this urban engineering, the percentage of areas designated for pedestrians in some neighborhoods increased from 45% to 74%, a change that reflects positively in local commerce and in the quality of life of residents. In addition, superblocks also reduced nitrogen dioxide emissions by 42% and reduced particle pollution by 38%, proving that this model has a direct impact on public health and the environment.
Cerdà's legacy and Barcelona's future
Despite modifications over the years, the essence of Cerdà’s plan remains alive. Barcelona shows how engineering can transform a city into a more human space, where the well-being of its residents is a priority. The city, which previously had the highest rate of vehicles per inhabitant in Europe, is now becoming a model of sustainable urbanism, encouraging other metropolises around the world to adopt more people-centered practices.
The superblock model in Barcelona, based on Cerdà's principles, is a clear example of how engineering can use simple solutions to solve complex urban problems. Transforming city blocks into pedestrian and cyclist-only living and circulation areas has the potential to inspire cities around the world, proving that sustainable urbanism is not only possible, but also essential for the future of cities.
