Urban densities for walkability in Barcelona
Urban densities for walkability
Urban densities for walkability refer to the spatial conditions and urban functions that enable daily walking. Barcelona has, in a good part of the city, the appropriate characteristics to facilitate walking. High values are found in 25.5% of the urban area. These are concentrated in the historic center and traditional neighborhoods such as Sants, Gràcia, La Barceloneta, Sarrià and El Clot.
What do urban densities depend on for walkability?
Urban densities for walkability integrate residential and commercial density, walkable intersections and the diversity of uses of the built environment.
Residential density
Barcelona’s residential density is heterogeneous and presents a polycentric spatial distribution. Residential uses predominate in 19% of the city, in the southeastern and western neighborhoods of the city. In the center of the city there is an axis between the sea and the Collserola mountain with low values. The lowest density residential areas are in the peripheries of the city.
Commercial density
The city of Barcelona has a large number of commercial facilities distributed throughout most of the city’s neighborhoods. Commercial density is very high in 15% of the city. In this regard, the historic center and traditional neighborhoods stand out. Nodes and axes define the commercial location in neighborhoods such as Poblenou, Bon Pastor or La Barceloneta. Commercial density is low in the peripheries.
Intersections
The number and distribution of walkable road intersections (sidewalks, pedestrian zones, parks and pedestrian crossings) in the city of Barcelona is heterogeneous and does not respond to center-periphery patterns. In 18% of the urban area, the number of intersections is high. These are distributed in the form of nodes throughout all the neighborhoods of the urban continuum. On the other hand, the scarcity of walkable roads in the periphery does not favor walking.
Diversity of uses
Barcelona is characterized by its great mix of land uses. The urban core combines residential, commercial, institutional, office and leisure uses. About 20% of the city has high diversity values. The areas with the greatest diversity of land uses are located along a central axis that runs through the city from west to east: from the Gràcia district to the historic center. Peripheral areas are the great exception.
Location map
