Architecture Bachelor Thesis

Multi-leveled connections sewing the city, the citadel and the sea Mark Estafan

Project Group Amin El-Didi, Mayar Salama and Pakynam Gheith

Barcelona view from bunkers del carmel ยน

[1] Photo by Mayar Salama

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Introduction This project is about scrutinizing the capability of urban redesign of the area of la Ciutadella in the city of Barcelona, and the surrounding spaces, with the idea of working on the existing realities, rather than inventing a new reality to the area.

The project group were a team of four, with four different proposals focusing on different aspects of the design.

Reconnecting the main spaces and elements of the area while revealing the historical value of the site, and to contrast that with an exploration of a futuristic public spaces through vertical structures and top level network of pathways helping the main idea of the project which is the enhance the visual connections, from the mountain range to the Mediterranean sea, as well as the urban fabric of the city itself which sits in-between.

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猀攀愀 琀攀爀爀椀琀漀爀礀 洀漀甀渀琀愀椀渀 琀攀爀爀椀琀漀爀礀 Cognative map of the city of barcelona

Collage mapping of the natural elements of Barcelona

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Proposal Analysis The site

Barcelona is the capital city of the autonomous community of Catalonia in the Kingdom of Spain, as well as the country’s second most populous municipality, with a population of 1.6 million within city limits. Its urban area extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of around 4.7 million people.

It is the largest metropolis on the Mediterranean Sea, located on the coast between the mouths of the rivers Llobregat and Besòs, and bounded to the west by the Serra de Collserola mountain range.

It is easy to create a mental cognitive map to the city of Barcelona, as it would definitely have the mountains, the two rivers and the sea as the main elements manipulating the character of the city of Barcelona and giving its four different urban fabrics their own boundaries.

On a different scale the main axes of the city passing from the mountain to the sea it’s clear that the city is trying to connect itself from the mountains passing by the unique well known urban fabric of Barcelona meeting the Mediterranean sea.

Noli-map showing the area of intervention

One of the main axes connecting the mountain to the sea reaches the area of the Ciutadella where the site of this project is located on the northeastern edge the area of Ciutat Vella in one of the well known public spaces of the Catalonian city which is “Parc de la Ciutadella”.

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Different views to the site of intervention ยน [1] Photos by the author

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The Parc de la Ciutadella is Barcelona’s most central park. The park includes a zoo that would be removed, a lake, a large fountain and several museums. The Catalan Parliament is seated in a building at the center of the park.

The thirty hectare large park forms a green oasis close to the always crowded historic center of Barcelona. The park is laid out nicely with wide promenades.

Park de la Ciutadellaš

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City scale map

Medium scale map showing the main disconnections in the area

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Urban studies and site analysis

Parc de la Ciutadella was the only green space in the mid of the nineteenth century so it has it’s huge value for the city, also it is one of the few areas that witnessed a lot of changes to the city due to it’s critical location between the different urban fabrics of the city and near to the seafront. But the disconnection from the city due to the presence of the fence surrounding the park isolating it from the city and also the presence of a huge physical barrier which is the ringroad (Ronda Litoral) and the unused railway leaving behind a huge abandoned public spaces.

The city scale map shows how the city’s main avenues are somehow connecting from the mountains to the sea front of the Catalonian city (Figure3), but on studying the site a number of disconnections is blocking this connection such as the ring road and the railway tracks.

On the intimate scale the spots where the disorientation and kind of placelessness that is left behind the disconnections.

Small scale map showing the points of disorientation and placenessness

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Collage map of the different urban fabrics

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A map that shows the four different urban fabrics of the city. Eixample district, Sant MartĂ­ district, Old town and Barceloneta leaving parc de la cuitadella as a void due to the fact of the presence of disconnections

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Collage plan of the diffusion and flow of materials

Large scale urban strategy

Diagrammatic masterplan showing intentions

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MasterPlan Urban strategies

After analyzing the city connections and highlighted those who have, or may have, a direct effect on the area of Ciutadella.

Vertical network Green Rooftops

A connection linking the mountains with the sea front through an axis. This axis happens to be Passeig de Sant Joan. A boulevard cutting through Parc de la Ciutadella and continues up to the mountains, through the Arc de Triomf and Eixample. The aim is to reach the seafront with this axis, as well.

Preserved Buildings To be redesigned

Trees Activities Seafront

Masterplan development

Since the strategy is to enhance the connectivity aspect in the area, and we to achieve that by connecting the park to the surrounding urban fabrics,the sea and the mountains, not only visually but also physically through materiality, so the flow of the materials that shapes the city of Barcelona (sand, concrete and green, etc...) Would also flow inside the area of Ciutadella.

Paths

As shown the main strategy was to work on different levels and explore the different dimensions of the area; the underground level, the ground level and the higher level. Not only that, but also consider the historical traces and redesign the existing reality, the initial master plan showing the first intentions of the design proposals Urban strategies

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Masterplan development

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Masterplan that shows design elements and connections

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Diagram showing the project’s strategies

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The project’s strategy is mainly dealing with continuity through four different proposal on the vertical axis passing through Passeig de Sant Joan, and connecting it to the Barceloneta park, sewing the seafront to this area by adding minimal interventions to reactivate the public spaces which is already existing. As a post crisis project, the four proposal of this project was are dealing with the existing realities and traces rather than inventing a new one leaving the character of the Mediterranean city untouched but revealed.

In order to attain these intentions of connections different connections and traces on three different levels (underground, ground and top levels) were established not only to visually and physically connect the city but also regain qualities that were lost or neglected.

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Master plan

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Urban structure and infrastructure

Parc de la Cuitadella is an already successful public space, but a 3 meter high fence surrounding the plot of the park disconnecting it from the city and the neighboring buildings, so only the fence were removed in order to preserve the urban reality and the public space (Figure13) and redesigning some buildings to host new activities serving and activating the public space for example Francia rail station and the seafront area descending to the Mediterranean. erutcurtS lacitreV spotfooR elbisseccA

vertical structure accessible rooftops

The park de la Cuitadella is historically rich and one of the huge milestones in history of this area that it once were a citadel that were demolished under Catalan orders, for it was viewed as by the citizens as a much-hated symbol of central Spanish government. And it’s ruins is still under the existing park, and working on reactivating and revealing the existing realities and qualities, the underground ruins and walls would be revealed with topographical folds in order to host public activities in the park and also as an exhibition spaces.

to be redesigned

dengiseder eb oT

On another level a vertical structure and network is attached to some buildings where free facades are there in order to utilize the rooftops and be used as a public spaces serving the existing buildings and the network would connect the rooftops to the ground level where the historic traces are standing inside the park de la Cuitadella. tnorfaes eht ot gnidnecseD Mobility, Connections and continuities secart dnuorgrednU

Working on the existing streets and pedestrianizing most of them and putting the ring road on a lower level than that of other pedestrian roads in order to maintain the visual connection to the sea and in order to let the public realm into the area, and focusing on the axis of Passeig de Sant Joan coming from Arco de Triunfo de Barcelona and let it continues till the seafront also to allow the flow of continuities and connections.

descending to the sea front/ underground traces

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The key chapters in the city’s life from 1750 to 2010 š

[1] Maps from http://cartahistorica.muhba.cat [2] Photos from http://bcn87-92.tempusfugitvisual.com

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Individual Proposals Heritage

One of the important topics that this project fixates is the historic traces, and urban realities, which is the main theme of the proposed multi levels, in the top level the historic traces return to the 1759 and 1787 were the population of the city increased enormously and people started using the rooftops in most of the buildings and started utilizing them, following these traces was the key in utilizing some buildings to host the public realm, which would be one of the city significant and unique spaces in the future.

For the ground level the traces of the Estacio de Franca and it’s railway tracks that has been always a problem as the water is always coming out of the earth due to the fact that it is very near to the seafront so that it is redesigned in order to act as a gateway to the other side of Parc de la Cuitadella.

Opening the way through it will transform it into a cultural hub hosting city events, activities and markets. And The space will extend into a curved boulevard, which will replace the train tracks connecting between Parc de Carles I and Estacio de Franca. The design of the area follows the idea of keeping traces of what is currently existing and using them to generate a public space. The train tracks overlap in a certain pattern, which, as a result, create leftover leaf-shaped spaces. These spaces are to be transformed into green spaces that would extend sideways.

The underground level is dealing directly with the historic traces as the idea is to reveal the old walls of the Citadel that was there during the 16th century, when Barcelona was under the Spanish monarchy, a five-cornered fortress was constructed in order to claim power over the Catalans. The Catalans later demolished this fortress after the reign of Maria Christina; due to their hatred towards the symbolic Spanish power it holds, and the idea of the design was to allow the public activities to take place in front of an old private realm that once were prison, which give the place a monumental quality.

Footage of historic buildings and traces in the area ²

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Isometric view to the public library rooftop ยน

Zoomed in plan of public spaces on one of the rooftops ยน [1] Drawings were done by Amin El-Didi

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Vertical structures

A futuristic public spaces that are connected through vertical structures and pathways, encouraging the visual connection to Barcelona’s urban fabrics from a higher level.

As the main idea of this project is enhancing the visual connections, from the mountain range to the Mediterranean sea, as well as the architecture of the city itself.

This vertical connection and network were introduced to the top level of the city establishing a network of public spaces on rooftops.

The mechanism of these vertical structures is to attach the structure to free facades of specific buildings that can host this type of systems, allowing these buildings’ rooftops to host different activities and by adding urban furniture (benches, light posts, free standing walls, etc...) To activate the rooftops.

Also the network of pathways would be passing through the rooftops connecting them and connecting the vertical structures together, and also structures would be added to the Parc de la ciutadella in order to connect it to the city’s urban fabric.

Small scale building and public space studies ¹

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Bird’s eye view of the new public space¹

Zoomed in plan of public spaces inside the station ¹

[1] Drawings were done by Mayar Salama

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Estacio de França

The Estacio de Franca serves as a regional and long-distance ridership to France, North East Catalonia and Costa Brava. It is the second busiest railway station after Barcelona-Sants.

However, its significance will vanish as soon as the construction of the Estacio de la Sagrera is completed in 2017. The station’s architectural style is rather exceptional. The station also happens to be a popular public space that hosts different events.

The Estacio de Franca will be redesigned in order to act as a gateway to the other side of Parc de la Cuitadella. Opening the way through it and transforming it into a cultural hub hosting different events and activities. And The space will extend into a curved avenue , which will replace the train tracks connecting between Parc de Carles I and Estacio de Franca.

The design of the area follows the idea of keeping traces of what is currently existing and using them to generate a public space. The train tracks overlap in a certain pattern, which, as a result, create leftover leaf-shaped spaces. These spaces are to be transformed into green spaces that would extend sideways.

For the interior spaces of the station it would be re used in order to host the new activities also more green would be introduced to the interior of the monumental building.

Diagrammatic plan of the design strategy¹

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Collage that shows the pier-waterfront connection ยน

Land-Sea connection and pier: Plan ยน [1] Drawings were done by Pakynam Gheith

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Land to sea connection and pier

On mapping materials in the area of intervention it is easy to see the flow of materiality and how they merged or didn’t with the surrounding elements, from the rough concrete to the heavy vegetation.

But the visual and the physical connections from the park to the sea is blocked due to different disconnections. Therefore, the designing mechanism would allow the visual connection between the park and the sea front and that wouldn’t be interrupted by cars crossing the street.

Another issue was solving the connection between the park and the city from the side of the ring road. The ring road will be covered and below the street level and new infrastructure will be adjusted to enhance the park’s accessibility.

The spatial organization of the design started by tracing the lines of the existing reality and omitting only what blocks the continuity and connections.

Also generating topographical changes in the area was to serve the visual connections, the park de barceloneta’s landscape will have two levels with a difference of 1 storey. One level will be connected to the seafront by gently sloping from the street level to the beach. The other level will also slope down gently to the beach level but earlier in the park, making access to the beach below the street level.

These topographical changes in the space will generate volumes with facades were activities will be hosted to make the park livelier with the required facilities and entertainment.

The materials in the design are concrete, greenery, wood, sand and water as Barceloneta park is a transitional space between the Ciutadella Park and the city to the seafront. Having two levels will allow the extension of the beach into the park and vice versa. It allows the extension of the water naturally into the park and also extending a platform from the park to the sea.

Design strategy process diagrams ¹

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Design strategy process diagram

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Historic traces /Activities spaces Spatial structure

As mentioned before the Parc de la ciutadella is a successful public space in Barcelona that hosts a large number of visitors daily and the park also host the zoo which is to be removed due to the misplacement of it next to the Catalan parliament. But the public space that Ciutadellal is offering is somehow disconnected from the city due to the presence of several disconnections.

One of the main elements blocking this continuity is a three meter high fence that is surrounding the park except only for two gates that allows the people in and out. So as a step to accomplish the connection to the city, this fence would be removed and recycled and be re-used in different function and form. And working on the existing elements in the park the trees is one of the main elements that shapes the successful place and it will be preserved as they known to include old trees. And in order to activate the area of the zoo that would be a void after moving the zoo out. Different activity spaces would be introduced.

Working on the idea of tracing realities and not inventing new ones the new spaces and public areas won’t be a replacement to the existing but it would reveal the old forgotten traces of the city which is beneath the park, an old citadel that once stood in the area. Through topographical changes and folds and reusing and re placing the fence of the existing park.

[1] Photo by the author

View of the existing fence & materials š

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Footage of the historic old citadel under the existing Park while excavating a trench in 1989 ยน

[1] Photos from http://bcn87-92.tempusfugitvisual.com

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History of the old ciutadella

In 1714, after a 13-month siege Barcelona fell to the army of Philip V of Spain(Madrid). In order to maintain control over the city, and to prevent the Catalans from rebelling as they had in the previous century, King Philip V built the citadel in Barcelona, at that time the largest fortress in Europe.

A substantial part of the district it was constructed in (La Ribera) was destroyed to obtain the necessary space, leaving its inhabitants homeless. The fortress was characterized by having five corners, which gave the citadel defensive power, and by a rather wide surrounding margin, serving as location for the army’s cannons.

Hundreds of Catalonians were forced to work on the construction for three years, while the rest of the city provided financial backing for this and for warfarerelated expenses as well, with a new tax named el cadestre. Three decades later a quarter was rebuilt around the fortress named Barceloneta, which is located inside the neighborhood Ciutat Vella.

In 1841 the city’s authorities decided to destroy the fortress, which was hated by Barcelona’s citizens. Yet two years later, in 1843, under the regime of Maria Cristina, the citadel was restored. In 1848, after Maria Cristina’s abdication and as the citadel lost its use, General Espartero razed most of the buildings within the fortress as well as its walls by bombarding it from the nearby mountain fortress Montjuic, which helped him gain political popularity. By 1869, as the political climate liberalized enough to permit it, General Prim decided to turn over what was left of the fortress to the city and some buildings were demolished under Catalan orders, for it was viewed as by the citizens as a much-hated symbol of central Spanish government.

Footage of the historic old citadel under the existing Park while excavating a trench in 1989 ¹

The chapel (now the Military Parish Church of Barcelona), the Governor’s palace (now Verdaguer Secondary School), and the arsenal (which is now home to the Catalan Parliament) remain, With the rest of the site being turned into the park of the citadel as we now know as Parc de la ciutadella, on the grounds of the former fortress leaving it’s ruins underground,

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Plan of the old citadel on the existing park

Topogropghical changes and folds diagrams

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Topography and folds

Introducing a topographical changes and folds of 3 meters high in order to reveal the underground traces of the old citadel in certain areas.

And in order not to block the continuity, these folds would only reveal the old walls and the change of heights would gradually gets to the zero level again.. Creating new public spaces that different activities would take place in.

And according to the function of the space the height of the revealed wall would change.

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Proposal masterplan

Diagrammatic sections showing different situations to the public spaces

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Materiality

Working on the same topic of continuity, and in order to obtain the connection with the city and the surrounding context. Tracing the old citadel would also take place on the floor as the different type of flooring materials (interlocking tiles, Sand, and concrete tiles) would flow inside the park with the superimposed plan lines of the old citadel as border lines of each materials. space function

Spaces were introduceed to the area in order to serve people and context’s needs. as the spaces would be next to a public library and a public university and in order to connect the activity spaces to the context. Different spaces were introduced, firstly a public reading area which would be placed in front of the public library and a speakers' corner space next to the university and finally an amphitheater that would host events and exhibition space inside the park.

Recycling the fence

The removed fence that was surrounding the existing park would be recycled in order to be used as benches and other design elements.

Fence recycling process

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Zoomed in plan of the public space and historic traces

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Isometric view that shows design elements and connections with the context

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Collage showing the reused fence inside the Ciutadella park

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Diagrammatic collage of the design elements and the vertical structures

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Author

Mark Estafan

Supervisors

Professor Dr. Rita Pinto De Freitas Teaching Assistant B.Arch. Ahmed Ades Teaching Assistant M.Arch. Sara Vima Grau

Universities

German University in Cairo (GUC) this project took place at Escola Técnica Superior d’Arquitectura de Barcelona (ETSAB) - UPC

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