This project focuses on establishing a community-centered public space in Santa Coloma. Situated at Block Illa de Raval, a designated “green finger” of the Pinta Verde initiative, the project seeks to improve accessibility, enhance social engagement, and address infrastructural needs based on local context and community input.
HUMAN
Research and analysis
The research highlighted several structural and demographic challenges in the area. The steepness of streets, public transport options, and lack of commercial and social facilities restrict accessibility. The community primarily comprises young families and low-income households. Despite these limitations, residents demonstrate a strong community connection and informal organizational structures, reflecting a solid foundation for engagement in public initiatives.
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NON-HUMAN HABITAT
Key Remarks
The guiding principles for this project revolve around biodiversity, coexistence, education, and adaptability. During our research and plant selection process, we considered several important factors. To prevent soil acidification, we avoided using resinous plant species. Sun exposure and the position of the site relative to sunrise and sunset were analyzed to meet the light requirements of the selected plants while balancing human preferences for visibility and shade.
In less visible garden areas, we recommend preserving fallen foliage, as this provides a habitat for invertebrates, which are essential as the base of the food chain. A strong emphasis was placed on using native and endemic flora to attract local fauna and enhance ecological balance. Shrubby plant structures were prioritized, as they offer crucial nesting sites for understorey birds while also providing tree cover to facilitate the movement of fauna. Additionally, we recognized the importance of nettle trees and flowering plants, which serve as food sources for birds and invertebrates.
Concept: Inspired by the Mediterranean Climate
The design draws inspiration from the local Mediterranean climate and the site’s proximity to the river. This concept embraces the seasonal interest of the area while focusing on plant species that thrive in Mediterranean conditions and are either autochthonous or endemic. Recognizing the site’s current barren state, we adopted a bottom-up approach to establish a foundation that supports biodiversity. Plants were chosen to attract pollinators and insects, particularly butterflies, as they play a crucial role in the ecosystem.Through research, we identified several butterfly species native to the region, including the Western Dappled White (Euchloe ausonia), Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), and Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium esculi). These butterflies rely on nectar from specific plants such as Minorca Honeysuckle (Lonicera implexa), Mediterranean Buckthorn (Rhamnus alaternus), and Laurustinus (Viburnum tinus). The planting design ensures that various species flower at different times, providing a continuous nectar supply that aligns with the butterflies’ active seasons.
Selection of flora: Plants
There was a wide variety of trees to choose from the city municipality catalogue. But in order to find the most suitable one, a comparative analysis was made. Our tree selection is carefully categorized based on shade cover and ecological benefits, ensuring a balance between functionality and biodiversity. Trees providing less shade, like Wild Cherry, are ideal for open areas, while denser canopies like Large-Leaved Lime offer cooling in shaded zones. Each tree supports specific fauna, such as birds and butterflies, enhancing urban biodiversity. Seasonal attributes like flowering and fruiting ensure dynamic visual appeal and functionality throughout the year. This thoughtful integration creates sustainable, vibrant public spaces that cater to both people and nature. However for final implementation only 6-7 trees are chosen.Primarily the one that enhances biodiversity.
Maintenance and Biodiversity Planning
To create a self-sustaining and biodiverse environment, the planting schedule is carefully aligned with the seasonal needs of the local fauna. Flowering plants are selected to provide nectar during the butterflies’ active months, while fruiting shrubs are chosen to attract birds at key times, particularly during migration. The integration of shrubby structures and flowering plants ensures that the space remains ecologically vibrant across all seasons, supporting not only pollinators and insects but also the bird populations that rely on them.
This approach ties together ecological functionality with aesthetic appeal, making the site both a sanctuary for biodiversity and an inviting space for human interaction with nature.
Water Consumption
In order to address the water needs for plants, water consumption analysis was made. The water consumption of various flora, divided into Trees and Plants & Shrubs, with details on canopy area and water needs per square meter. Trees like Holm Oak have lower water requirements (31.25 l/m²), while others like Wild Cherry require significantly more (140 l/m²). In contrast, smaller plants and shrubs, despite their smaller canopy areas (1–2 m²), often have higher water needs, such as Margarita (250 l/m²). The visualization highlights the importance of understanding specific water requirements for efficient irrigation planning. Surprisingly all the water needs are way far less than the average rainfall of Barcelona, which is 600-650mm per year.
How does flora invite fauna?
Flora plays a vital role in inviting fauna into our ecosystems. For example, trees like Holm Oak and White Mulberry provide ideal nesting spaces for birds, offering them shelter and safety. Trees such as Common Hawthorn and Pomegranate contribute by providing food through their fruits and flowers, sustaining bird and insect populations. Additionally, plants like Lavender, Thyme, and Rockrose are highly attractive to pollinators like bees and butterflies, promoting biodiversity. Together, these elements create a thriving, interconnected environment that supports both wildlife and ecological balance.
Designing for Birds and Seasonal Interactions
In addition to supporting butterflies, the design incorporates plant species that meet the needs of various birds. By selecting species such as the European Robin (Erithacus rubecula), Common Firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla), Blackbird (Turdus merula), and Great Tit (Parus major), we aimed to encourage coexistence between local bird populations and human visitors. These bird species are particularly suited to environments with human activity, which is crucial for a public space like this.
The plan considers the migratory patterns and nesting requirements of these birds, ensuring that the gardens provide resources such as nectar, fruits, and insects throughout the year. Shrubby structures and canopy plants are essential elements of the design, offering nesting sites and shelter for both resident and migratory birds.
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THE BUDDY SYSTEM
Human / Non-human Correlation
We explored the connection between various species and how they integrate with different areas of our design. Starting with trees and plants, each has been carefully selected not only for its environmental benefits but also for the unique fauna it attracts, such as birds and butterflies, creating vibrant ecosystems. For instance, species like Holm Oak and Lavender support Great Tits and Painted Lady butterflies, enriching biodiversity. These combinations are thoughtfully mapped to specific spaces like community gardens, adults’ spaces, and children’s play areas, ensuring that each zone promotes both ecological balance and human interaction. This design celebrates the coexistence of people and nature, making it both functional and sustainable.
The Buddy system was also paired as Human/ Non-Human. Children we’re chosen to be paired with butterflies as they are quick moving and colorful. Adults and Seniors were paired with birds as they allow a slower paced viewing and enjoyment such as birdwatching, which can be done seated if wanted. Adults with children were placed with both.
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PROJECT
Implementation Scheme
The implementation scheme is designed in accordance with the key community needs. Our research pointed out the key needs and potential points of conflict within the area, which the design takes into consideration. The most pressing ones include need for:
- Place to spend time
- Place to walk pets
- Activities / events in the area for different age groups
- Shade
- Place to go after school
- Place to wait for kids
The project includes reshaping and repurposing common areas for ones that address the needs mentioned above. The design embraces the interconnectedness of all of the space levels and bring even more connection where possible by introducing space connectors such as mixed use stair cases (mobility + space to grow plants), common visual and design language, indigenous species of flora that is dispatched through the whole 3 floor area and by keeping the visibility between terraces as much as possible. The sense of connection is embraced by creating space to perform activities (Community Garden, mixed use court, cafe terrace) as well as being a passive observer of those activities (benches, coffee tables and chairs, staired constructions).
Green Interventions
The planned interventions address the communal, educational, aesthetic and lifestyle needs of space’s stakeholders. The design implementation takes into consideration a multi-level terrace factor and harsh space separation as well as the terraces’ impervious surface that does not allow direct planting in soil.
Our design keeps the design language of playful terracing and aims to transform the space into a connected one by linking two of the detached floors by a mixed use wooden staircase. Not only are the buildups using the same language, but also our planting strategy which requires setting up soil containers allowing plants to grow even in unwelcoming, concrete surface conditions.
Sloping strategy
The sloping of the site also informs the landscape. Taller plants were placed at the bottom of the slope, helping to block noise from the courtyard to the surrounding houses. Smaller plants are planted at the top in the community garden which are easier to have human interaction. Taller plants at the bottom, and smaller at the top not only creates a level tree line across the site, but allows for a direct line of site from the top space (where more seniors will be), to the lowest playground space, where the children play. This maintains a level of safety in the area.
The slope also allows for water retention in different areas as well. Larger, water-retaining plants are placed at the bottom while more draught tolerant plants are placed at the top. When it rains the water is then evenly distributed to all the plants.
Planters Slope
The planters also keep the same language as the site with a slope or step design. This works as a habitat space and a space of play for the children. Allowing certain parts of the garden to be explorable, while raised parts of the garden stay safe and untouched for creatures that live there and plants to grow.
The Community Garden
The community garden houses raised beds and human-level plants which invites people in the area to interact directly with the plants and the soil to grow plants. The garden could also be used by the school which shares the level with the community garden. This can be used for learning of native species which can then be planted.
Participatory Design
Our project includes the participation of community members of Illa de Raval in a design process. By activating stakeholders, especially children from the nearby school, we will be able to transform the design process into an educative activity Promoting understanding and interest in how the plants chosen for the Community Garden can help the fauna in the area. The participatory process involves pairing colors and flavors with native equivents to foster learning of native Catalonian plants and bring back native species.
Timeline After Implementation
The timeline serves as an estimate of what is to come after the initial planting of the gardens. Each band depicts a level and their respective gardens. The community garden can have community participation in the planting, while the rest can be done by those who have more knowledge of plants. After the flowering bushes are planted, an increase in butterflies can be predicted as they come for the flowers. This will then bring birds. By this time, people will continue as normal in the area coming to play or use the pool. The community garden can be harvested and used in homes around the courtyard and within the community. Within several years the fruit trees will have grown as well and will drop seeds, attracting more birds. By the time the other trees have grown, an increase in biodiversity in the area is expected.
