MINA DE
LA CIUTAT

The re-urbanisation of Mina de la Ciutat street in the higher part of Barcelona, already up the hill of the Collserola mountain range, is a face-to-face training with the strong character of the neighbourhood of Roquetes, in the working-class district of Nou Barris.

This is a character built on the steep slope of its topography (above 20% in some areas) and the historical activism of its neighbours who, literally, built their sewage and streets (1960’s) and fought for access to public transportation and decent public amenities (1970’s and 1980’s).

This is a neighbourhood grown with migrants who once came from the south of Spain while now arrive from around the world. The updating of the public space is needed to support this diversity and to invigorate the most commercial street of the quarter.

The project is largely functional, following the strongly regulated criteria of the Barcelona City Council regarding the street accessibility, sewage, services networks, public transportation or garbage collection. The room for manoeuvre is limited and focused in few important decisions: enlarging the sidewalk by approaching both sides kerbs; laying carpets of the popular Barcelona “panot” concrete piece in many different patterns as homage to the cultural diversity; or solving crossroads where topography creates inaccessible corners.

These intersections are now meaningfully filled in with large granite volumes, stones that refer to the neighbourhood etymology “Roquetes”. With different geometries, set individually or in groups, these “stones” become benches, meeting points or the skater’ sweetest object of desire. Along the street these “stones” shape the new quarter character, to keep it “rolling”.