Public spaces protected from the sun are highly valued in Mediterranean cities, especially during the increasingly frequent waves of extreme temperatures. The most vulnerable people, especially the elderly, are the ones who most demand these climate shelters. Vegetation is usually the first option to cushion the sweltering heat. But it is not always possible. As an alternative, Barcelona will test three prototypes of ephemeral structures, pergolas that will only be used in the hottest months, and innovative, designed with environmental criteria.
These are the winning proposals of the urban challenge launched last June by the City Council through the BIT Habitat Foundation and the Climate Change and Sustainability Office, to which nine projects developed by multidisciplinary teams will be presented. The first is called “Oasis. Shade for everyone", and has been presented by the team formed by Denvelops and Eurecat. The second, "Sea of Shadows", has been designed by BATEC, a cooperative pool integrated by Lacol, Aiguasol, Societat Orgànica and SEBA. And the third, "A l'ombra del trencadís", is signed by Arquitectura de Contacte in collaboration with Tallfusta.
“We are working on the transformation of public space so that it becomes increasingly more resilient in a context of climate emergency,” the first deputy mayor, Laia Bonet, highlighted this Tuesday at the opening of the Barcelona Innova Week, where the selected proposals. “This – she specified – means many things and one of them is being able to offer thermal comfort, generating shadows, which is not always easy.”
Now the prototypes will be manufactured, which will be tested for six months, from May to October, in a street, a children's play area and a large space, still to be decided. The intention is to technically validate them based on thermal comfort, sun protection and health; sustainability indicators; assembly, disassembly and maintenance logistics; indicators of impact on light intensity or community life. Each one will receive an approximate aid of 100,000 euros, which covers 80% of its cost.
The three selected proposals are modular, flexible and adaptable shade structures to different environments. In its design, the increase in circularity, durability and environmental and healthy behavior of materials throughout their life cycle has been taken into account.
