BARCELONA WATERFRONT

Barcelona Waterfront Promenade

By

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible.

DECLARATION

I, [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

Signed __________________ Date _________________

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Introduction1

Theoretical framework2

Problem statement3

Aim and objective3

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW4

Forum5

Participation of public7

Eagle eye8

Pop music10

La Rambla12

Columbus Monument12

B-10 Highway13

Plaza14

Rambla de Mar14

Barceloneta Beach15

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY16

Introduction16

Reason for using the case study methodology16

Research paradigm18

CHAPTER 4: DISCUSSION20

Design21

Itinerary24

Shoreline Fluctuations in Bayed/Pocket Beaches26

Storm-Induced Changes27

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION30

Potential influence30

Conclusion31

REFERENCES33

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Introduction

Barcelona has had a long standing relationship with the sea. Barcelona, being the second largest industrial port along the Mediterranean, has much of its coastline occupied by containers, freighters, and cranes. The Port of Barcelona stretches along the coast of Barcelona. The coast of Barcelona lies between the Besos and Llobregot Rivers. Port Vell, is located within the Port of Barcelona and is at the edge of the old City. Port Vell has been transformed into a leisure port, to allow for the recreational and commercial uses that occupy the space today. In 1992, Barcelona hosted the Olympic Games, which put a tremendous pressure on the City to make several improvements to its infrastructure (Priestley 2008, 85-111).

The waterfront was one of the areas that needed renovation. A port authority was established to oversee the changes that were being made along the waterfront. Prior to holding the games, the City needed to update their facilities and make improvements to given areas in the City. Prior to the Olympics there was limited space for recreational boating or leisure activities. The improvement plan addressed cleaning the beaches and establishing a port along the waterfront that would be speci? c to the Olympics. The transformation of Port Vell created a space that would strengthen the connection between the city of Barcelona and the Sea. The improvements to Port Vell would make that area of the waterfront a new leisure space for the people of Barcelona (Polette 2003, 94-106).

Upon arriving to Port Vell for the very ?rst time, it is hard to see all of the different components to which the port is broken down into. Port Vell totals 55 Hectares. It is a large space with no distinct boundaries. A Moll (Muelle) is a speci?c section or area of the port. Port Vell is indicated by the white background spaces on the above map. It can become somewhat confusing when different Molls of the port are referenced. The port authority breaks down Port Vell into 12 different Molls.

Theoretical framework

The new appearance of the Barcelona waterfront is definitely successful in all aspects; however, it still misses some fundamental opportunities. There is one option to extend the axis of La Rambla over the harbor to connect the Barceloneta ...