Greenery in intermediate spaces of the dwellings in the city of Barcelona

Abstract

The research intends to develop new forms of naturalization of the city by introducing greenery in the existing buildings of Barcelona. The research is part of a doctoral thesis developed in the University Ramon Llull, Campus La Salle, jointly with the investigation group IAR-IAM (Investigation of Mediterranean Architecture), and La Casa por el Tejado (LCT), a company specialized in industrialized housing projects, incorporating new penthouses on the rooftops of existing buildings with the potential to be vertically expanded. These industrialized penthouses are located in the Eixample District, which is suffering the greatest intensity of urban heat island (UHI) effects and the highest levels of pollution. For this reason, the investigation seeks to innovate technical solutions that incorporate vegetation into the architectural projects of LCT. The urban plot where these buildings are located presents many discontinuities in its morphology due to several changes in urban regulations through the years. This research looks to naturalize the intermediate spaces and surfaces that give continuity to the urban fabric, such as galleries, party walls, rooftops and block courtyards, in order to improve their environmental performance, the biodiversity in their surroundings and, ultimately, increase the quality of life of Barcelona’s residents.