HUMANIZING STREETS THE SUPERBLOCKS IN THE EIXAMPLE, BARCELONA Pamela AcuÑA Kuchenbecker Msc Thesis LanDscape Architecture WAGeninGen UniVersitY October 2019 HUMANIZING STREETS THE SUPERBLOCKS IN THE EIXAMPLE, BARCELONA Pamela ANDrea AcuÑA Kuchenbecker Msc Thesis LanDscape Architecture WAGeninGen UniVersitY October 2019 © Pamela Acuña Kuchenbecker Chair Group Landscape Architecture Wageningen University October 2019 All rights reserved. No part of this thesis may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of either the author or the Wageningen University Landscape Architecture Chairgroup. Pamela Andrea Acuña Kuchenbecker Registration number: 111184005150 [email protected] LAR-80436/39 Master Thesis Landscape Architecture Chair Group Landscape Architecture Phone: +31 317 484 056 Fax: +31 317 482 166 E-mail: [email protected] www.lar.wur.nl Postbus 47 6700 AA, Wageningen The Netherlands Examiner Dr. ir. Rudi van Etteger MA Wageningen University, Landscape Architecture group Supervisor & examiner Dr. dipl. ing. Sanda Lenzholzer Wageningen University, Landscape Architecture group Humanizing streets ABSTRACT People’s behavior is affected by the combination of sight, Therefore, the purpose of this thesis is to generate sounds, smells, textures, tastes, and thermal conditions, knowledge for the intersections of superblocks, which can determine how long a place will be used. The which present a deficiency in providing citizens with built environment, due to its population growth over the a comfortable and positive sensory experience. This centuries and with its consequent reduction of green thesis fills the knowledge gap by inferring a new multi- urban areas, has deprived citizens of many pleasures and sensory approach, which aims towards a pleasurable introduced new unpleasant sensations. The urban space human experience. First, with the use of techniques should diminish these discomforts and affect the human and an evaluation matrix, I determined which tools are experience positively. Therefore environmental comfort more efficient for achieving environmental comfort. is essential for the design of urban areas. Then, I generate new knowledge by establishing spatial configurations with different sensory issues. Finally, I Furthermore, superblocks, with their priority towards determine the integrated strategies for the different types pedestrians and its reduction in air and noise pollution, of space of each intersection to produce the final design aim to improve the human experience in the urban guidelines. And, with this new approach, unpleasant environment. The intersections of superblocks bring stimuli can be diminished while pleasant stimuli can be new functions and uses for citizens. Yet, the design of the enhanced. These guidelines can be applied in intersections intersections of the pilot urban superblock of El Poblenou, of future urban superblocks all over the Eixample, Barcelona, has little consideration for microclimatic Barcelona, to improve the multi-sensory experience. factors. This situation is more concerning considering that, with the increase in temperature due to climate change, the heat-related issues will increase. Keywords: Superblocks, environmental comfort, comfort, expressiveness, techniques, control, masking, enhancing, visual comfort, acoustic comfort, olfactory comfort, thermal comfort, urban microclimate, sense, pleasure, displeasure. Abstract I II Humanizing streets PREFACE This thesis is part of the MSc program Landscape Also, I am very thankful to the Climatelier group, who Architecture at Wageningen University & Research. With helped me with their feedback. A special thanks go to this thesis, I aim to create a more humanized approach my friends Jian Long, Eleonora Fiorin, Michiel Bakx, for outdoor spaces by integrating the knowledge of the Kathrin Merkelbach, Kareena Kochery, Begoña Arellano, different senses and superblocks. As an architect, I’m Estefania Giesecke, Iris Cornejo, and Gabriel Figari, who inclined to work in urban settings, and as a landscape helped me with their feedback, support, and patience. architect, I am drawn into creating pleasant outdoor public spaces for people to enjoy. Finally, but not least, I want to thank Carolina del Castillo, Susana Benavides, Catalina Hidalgo, and especially my Through my bachelor’s and master’s studies, I was always family for their support during this process. interested in thermal comfort and human experience. During my masters, I followed the climate track within I hope that with my thesis, I inspire other designers to my optional courses. In the course “Climate responsive improve the sensory experience, not only through the visual planning and design”, I learned about urban climate sense but through the combination of senses to create a systems and how to implement climate-sensitive design more comfortable and pleasurable space for people. into urban spaces. This knowledge was essential for this thesis. Additionally, the guidance and advice from Sanda Lenzholzer, my supervisor, during this process were fundamental to achieve this result, which is why I want to thank her for her help. Preface III CONTENT Abstract I PreFace III 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Introduction 3 Urban environment Cities as sensescapes Comfort in the built environment A new model for the city 1.2 Theoretical framework 4 1.2.1 Environmental comfort 4 Values of environmental comfort Sensory experience within environmental comfort Techniques to improve environmental comfort 1.2.2 Superblocks 10 Original vs. new model Environmental comfort in the new superblock model Implementation of superblocks Spatial composition of the superblock Superblock pilot in Barcelona 1.3 Knowledge gap 17 2 RESEARCH DESIGN & METHODS 2.1 Research questions 20 2.2 Methods 21 2.2.1 Research process 21 2.2.2 Research location 22 3 ANSWERING SRQ1: General DesiGN tools to improVE enVironmental comFort accorDinG to each technique 3.1 Method 26 3.2 Evaluation matrix 1 27 3.3 General design tools to improve environmental comfort 29 3.3.1 Water elements 29 3.3.2 Vegetation elements 30 3.3.3 Combined elements 31 3.4 Evaluation matrix per technique 32 Evaluation matrix criteria 3.5 Results 37 Humanizing streets 4 ANSWERING SRQ2: SensorY issues For the DIFFerent TYpe OF spaces For each neiGhbor noDE OF the superblock 4.1 Method 40 4.2 Prototypical model area 41 Barcelona Eixample: Cerda’s grid Prototypical model area definition 4.3 Analysis 44 4.4 Results 55 4.4.1 Neighbor node 1 55 4.4.2 Neighbor node 2 56 5 ANSWERING SRQ3: InteGrateD strateGies For the DIFFerent TYpes OF neiGhbor noDes OF the superblock 5.1 Method 60 5,2 Strategies per sense 61 5.2 Integrated design guidelines 65 5.2.1 Summary tables 66 5.2.2 Integrated design strategies 68 5.3 Results 70 5.3.1 Neighbor node 1 70 5.3.2 Neighbor node 2 73 5.4 Design 76 5.4.1 Design considerations 76 5.4.2 Site design 76 5.4.3 Neighbor node 1 (NN1) 77 Analysis Guidelines Site design 5.4.3 Neighbor node 2 (NN2) 86 Analysis Guidelines Site design 6 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS 6.1 Discussion 98 6.2 Conclusions 99 REFerences 105 AppenDix 111 Content 1. INTRODUCTION Fig 1.1 Limited amount of space left for pedestrians because of priority towards motorized traffic. Source: (Jilg, 2015) 2 Humanizing streets 1.1 INTRODUCTION Urban environment People experience the city every day, which makes Due to the population growth of the eighteenth and sensory experience essential when designing the urban nineteenth centuries, the built environment, with environment (Degen & Rose, 2012). The combination its consequent reduction of green urban areas, has of sights, sounds, smells, textures, tastes, and thermal deprived citizens of many pleasures and created new conditions creates the experience and ambiance of unpleasant sensations among the citizens’ urban urban space (as cited by Wankhede & Wahurwagh, lifestyle (Classen, 2013). 2016), which affects people’s behavior. Additionally, open public spaces are exposed to the increase in Physical comfort and convenience given by modern temperature (Wilson et al., 2007); traffic noises; bad technology came with harm towards the inhabitants’ odors; and visual discomfort. Many urban designs physical well-being by contributing to noise pollution, of public spaces are developed disregarding the air pollution (Classen, 2013), and an increase in aforementioned problems, with little consideration for temperature due to climate change (Àrea d’Ecologia climate (Djekic et al., 2018), sonic, tactile, and olfactory Urbana, 2018). factors (Classen, 2013). Air pollution is placed as the highest-burden of disease followed by noise pollution (as cited in World Health Comfort in the built environment Organization, 2018). Worldwide, air pollution brings more than 2 million premature deaths each year Comfort is one of the most important criteria for creating (World Health Organization, 2006). Furthermore, noise quality spaces (Djekic et al., 2018). The most influential pollution generated by traffic affects at least 100 million factor that determines the level of comfort of users of people in the European Union, leading “to auditory public space is thermal comfort. Thermal comfort can effects such as hearing loss and tinnitus” (World Health influence how often inhabitants use open space and do Organization, 2018, p. 1). Moreover, an increase in outdoor activities (Djekic et al., 2018). temperature can affect citizens in