Can Cervera

Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona

This Urbanistic project was devlop during my 3rd year of architectural school with Professor Ignacio Arizu Rosell.

The regional scale, the purpose of the project is to connect the Cans that remain from the La Serra de Collserola until the bed of Lobregat’s river. The way to connect them will be by a pedestrian pathing. A promenade as a link from north to south, passing by Can Clota, Can Cervera, Can Boixeres, Can Serra, and Can Mercader. This is a symbolic way of connecting the mountain with the sea, the city with the orchards, and the Ronda with the pedestrians. In a high-density region like Barcelona, the protection of the open space and greenery is vital. Esplugues, Cornella, and Hospitalet de Llobregat are also overpopulated with a lack of open and green space. The project aims to reconcile these three municipalities in a new center. This center will provide facilities, greenery, and abound between them. To achieve that, the project covers the Ronda from the northeast part to the southwest. There are two Ronda’s stretch covered already. The intention is to link them both, locating the dwellings on top of it, and consequently, the preservation of the green area, refurbishing and organizing the orchards. Locating the dwellings on top of the Ronda offers the opportunity to keep the open space reorganizing it and providing sanitation to the orchards and a platform to sell their products to the neighbors. There is a clear need for food stores in the area, and what a better way to promote local commerce by commercializing non-industrialized fruits and vegetables. The topography difference will redesign with a similar pathing used in Can Boixeres, where a net of alleys provide a gentle slope and connects the perimeter of the park with the city. On the west part, on top of the Ronda, the dwellings will act as a second façade, finding the other on the existing east. The placement of the dwelling’s volumetry is thought firstly to supply a maximum of natural light, secondly to enforce the connection with the city and the park, and finally to frame three different paths. The first path lays on the west part of the volumes. It is the city pathing, where the entrance to the dwelling will be located, as well as the facilities like offices, medical centers, or city hall premises. The middle path will be a commercial promenade, where the stores will be placed, providing goods to the area. The last path is laying on the east part of the volumes, where the restaurants and coffee shops will be located, enjoying the view to the park and generating a sort of coastal walk. These three paths will be connected by a net of paths crossing the volumes from the park until the city and vice versa.