Our proposal considers a new opportunity for regeneration of one of the last remaining industrial waterfronts in Barcelona through the following aspects- Placemaking: in terms of identity, diversity and robustness of uses; Connectivity: in terms of legible pedestrian movement, accessibility and permeability, ground level streetscape enhancement and efficient linkage between activity cores and public transport nodes; Land-water interface: in terms of face-lifting the waterfront edge through interconnecting and user-friendly amenities; and finally, Green urban design: in terms of energy efficient and low carbon solutions applied at a neighborhood level that are responsive to changing conditions and suitable for adaptive re-use.
The challenges posed by the current socioeconomic and environmental context, economic crisis and climate change have led us to rethink the logic of waterfront regeneration by removal or substitution, and to establish a multi-layered, multi-dimensional approach responding to its topographical constraints bring the city to the port without sacrificing its existing operational activities. Meanwhile, new visions and opportunities to the Litoral Morrot area are considered as follows:
● New City Gateway–Transforming the experience of the city by creating a physical gateway in terms of a new entrance point from the Mediterranean Sea that consolidates and extend cruise ship facilities with effective land-water connections and integrates them into a new mixed-use community. ● New Waterfront Quarter– Completing the waterfront by extending the urban edge of the city to connect the heritage buildings and landscape of area through a range of public spaces and facilities along the existing city promenade. ● New Tourism Hub - A critical mass of commercial mixed-use development to create a viable and easily accessible destination point for locals and tourists, extending the range of existing recreational activities in and around the water basins, and combining these with new business uses. ● New Low Carbon Development - Planning and design reflecting opportunities to incorporate green design, infrastructure and energy initiatives, and integration of existing landscape and urban structures to promote pedestrian and bicycle-friendly mobility. ● New Connective Structure–The exceptional geographical characteristics and proximity to the city provides a 3-dimensional, multi-level approach to networks of pedestrian movement integrating the public and private development realms, creating a dynamic and enjoyable sense of movement and activity. ● Integration of Heritage - The site preserves and enhances distinguished heritage buildings for adaptive re-use by integrating their unique qualities and location as vital physical and commercial components of the planning and urban design framework of Litoral Morrot.
To this end, three major assumptions define the intervention strategies that formulate a new urban regenerative framework: the creation of Joint Spaces, the integration of Port and City, and the Configuration of an Urban Structure that integrates the infrastructure. Under these premises, a range of conceptual planning and urban design approaches has been developed for the Morrot area, testing preliminary urban fit in terms of a range of uses and infrastructures.
Conceptual Master Plan Placemaking The starting point in developing a series of new urban places is to utilise a system of pedestrian connections to create a permeable system of links through the area of Litoral Morrot from Ciutat Vella. It is of particular importance to firstly reinforce all existing links with the city and the Montjuïc area, to counter existing barriers and then to develop a connective matrix of routes and paths linked the waterfront area, commercial district and office zone that can be joined together through a phased pattern of development on the site itself.
Land-Water Interface A successful land-water interface that serves the needs of the public, while at the same time accommodating the operational requirements of the cruise industry is a significant factor in the revitalisation of the area.
Linkage and Connectivity The ‘gateway’ to Litoral Morrot from the city is the Plaça de les Drassanes, which, along with the Mirador de Colon to the north, marks the broad intersection of La Rambla and Avinguda del Paral•lel on the waterfront.
Green Environment Integration of existing landscape and urban structures to promote pedestrian and bicycle-friendly mobility.Energy efficient and low carbon solutions applied at a neighborhood level that are responsive to changing conditions and suitable for adaptive re-use
New Urban Profile Connective link with the city through a sequence of pedestrian spaces,promenades and precincts. This acts to introduce variety along with ease and comfort of movement through a transition of urban elements in scale with the waterfront. Gradually the transformation process makes the current industrial/ logistics district into a welcoming destination for the public.
Commercial Matrix Landscape-terraced commercial mixed-use blocks overcome the existing topographic and infrastructural barriers by across Ronda Del Litoral free way and stepping to the base level adjoining the waterfront. These semi-public spaces merge with the mountain’s series of pedestrian and bicycle paths nature and new development seamlessly.
A New City Edge The plan provides an energising and diverse city edge profile linking Pl. de les Drassanes and World Trade Centre with new development nodes associated with Moll Sant Bertran and Moll Costa.
Legible Relationship of Uses and Spaces Transparent pavilions define a series of pedestrian courts associated with the proposed Ramblas that provides both a vibrant public realm for festival market activities and a permeable framework for pedestrian circulation.
Montjuïc Hillside Connector Reinforcing the tradition of hilltop public vistas in this city, a series of commercial pedestrian retail corridors terraces down from Plaça de l'Armada, to connect with Plaçade les Drassanes and the Montjuïc Ramblas to the waterfront providing a new public access between the mountain and the sea.
