GIBRALTAR SQUARE AND FRANCESC TARAFA STREET. GRÀCIA NEIGHBORHOOD.

This commission was the sum of two separate projects: one is Gibraltar Square and its adjacent spaces, and the other is Francesc Tarafa Street.

Both projects are located on very steep terrain, necessitating the use of stairs, which even require winding staircases. Furthermore, on Francesc Tarafa Street, the various access points at different levels had to be maintained, allowing access to the various homes facing the street.

In Gibraltar Square, with regard to road traffic, the curve’s layout is being maintained to facilitate accessibility in both directions for large vehicles, such as buses, that pass through it.

A pavement of precast concrete blocks is being laid to unify the entire project. The walls are made of exposed concrete with wooden formwork.

All existing trees (plane trees) are being preserved, and some new ones are being planted. The planting of Cupressus Sempervirens and Cupressus Macrocarpa hedges is planned in different locations throughout the project, giving the project a more unified appearance.

On Francesc Tarafa Street, a succession of stairs and platforms is planned to facilitate access to the various homes, thus bridging the nearly 18-meter difference in level between the two streets it connects.

This is achieved by adapting to the terrain, using stairs that rest on the concrete retaining walls that create the different platforms. Cypress will be planted along the fronts of the retaining walls, creating different areas and providing a more pleasant and gentle path (as well as an elevation). Plane trees will also be planted on the platforms to create shady spots. The paving will consist of a cast-in-place concrete slab with a non-slip treatment.