Barcelona to create urban laboratory of nature and tech on Besòs river

The Besòs river project is a coordinated effort involving the Barcelona Metropolitan Strategic Plan (PEMB), the Besòs Consortium, the Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC) and planning consultancy MCRIT. The urban planning initiative looks to bring more biodiversity and make the area more resilient to climate change.

“We want to work on the paving, reducing the number of impermeable surfaces created by the existing concrete slabs while increasing the planning area,” said Francesc Romero, an expert in urban transformation at the Besòs Consortium.

The plan involves replacing existing flora with native species that form dense canopies and require less water, which will help reduce the heat island effect and create a climate refuge that will add to the beauty of the landscape.

Citizen engagement

Citizens have been closely involved in the process from the outset, through a co-design process in collaboration with Sant Adrià de Besòs Town Council and the Besòs Consortium. In addition, local experts were invited to participate in a series of consultations to help co-design the nature-based solutions. “The Department of Citizen Participation and the Department of Regional Planning of the Sant Adrià de Besòs Town Council have been involved from day one, serving as liaisons for the processes carried out to date. Their experience helped us understand how to get things done and what to think about to make sure the process was a success,” said Romero.

GreenInCities is founded on the premise that cities are not just for humans but are spaces where many different species must coexist harmoniously. This approach is known as the One Health approach. As a result, it promotes biodiversity islands, planted facades and green corridors that connect natural spaces, encourage native species to thrive and aid climate resilience. These help to mitigate the heat island effect by reducing temperatures in dense urban areas, create sustainable drainage systems that reduce the risk of flooding during extreme rainfall events, and improve urban plant cover, which contributes to CO₂ capture and improved air quality.

“We want to work on the paving, reducing the number of impermeable surfaces created by the existing concrete slabs while increasing the planning area”

This is where environmental neuroscience comes in, showing that being in touch with nature has a positive effect on stress and psychological wellbeing. Tools such as Neurourbanism Assessment (NUA), developed by NeuroLandscape, have been used to evaluate these factors, placing emphasis on the importance of biophilic design, urban interventions and the creation of spaces that encourage social connection and physical activity.

Technology is at the heart of this approach. For example, digital twins, which are virtual replicas of the physical environment, make it possible to simulate, analyse, and monitor behaviour in real-time using data collected by sensors, or drones and other data capture devices. With GreenInCities, this technology helps visualise how urban projects will impact the environment before they’re even started, making it easier to make joint decisions and track how they affect the environment and people’s wellbeing.