Urban Planning, Ecological Transition, Urban Services and Housing

To create an innovative, temporary and sustainable modular element that enables shade to be generated in public spaces where it is not possible to plant trees. This was the challenge launched by the BIT Habitat Foundation last year and today it is starting to become a reality. The three winning projects have resulted in three large-scale prototypes that are now starting to provide shade on the streets.

On Monday, 29 September, the first of the three prototypes from the ephemeral shade challenge to be installed in public space was presented to the media. “A l’ombra del trencadís” [In the shade of the trencadís], created by Arquitectura de Contacte through a collaboration agreement with Tall Fusta. The trial of this large wooden structure, which generates shade and also provides spaces where local residents can sit down and rest, began a few days ago on Rambla de Badal, 113, near the Cavall Bernat primary school in Sants-Montjuïc.

Also completed, next to the Blau Museum in the Fòrum, is the installation of the prototype “Mar d’ombres” [Sea of Shade], created by BATEC, a cooperative hub made up of Lacol, Aiguasol, Societat Orgànica and SEBA. The system uses a basic, standardised structural module which is often used as a greenhouse in agriculture. Each one of these structures measures around 3 x 6.4 x 3.5 to 6 metres, and it is possible to install as many as needed, adapting them to the public space.

Plaça Comercial, by the Born Culture and Memory Centre, is where the last of the three prototypes, “Oasis. Ombra per a tothom”[Oasis. Shade for everyone], presented by the team formed of Denvelops and Eurecat will be installed later this week. This is an industrialized system of openwork coverings, based on small-format pieces that move with the wind and that can be combined in different densities and patterns according to the needs of each space.

A fourmonth trial period

The three prototypes from the challenge, promoted by the BIT Habitat Foundation in collaboration with the City Council’s Office for Climate Change and Sustainability, will be trialled in these real-world environments in the city for fourmonths. This will enable the functionality, strength and durability of the prototypes to be verified and offers the chance to see how they are used by members of the public.

Once the trial period has ended and the structures have been fully tested, the results will be used to make progress on urban resilience and adaptation, to improve thermal comfort in urban spaces and to improve the health of city residents. The aim is for the City Council to use these as elements to generate shade during the hottest months of the year in streets and squares in the city where it is not possible to plant trees.