The memory of the 22@ urban planning regulation states: "Building projects will minimize stilt-like ground floors to avoid the desertification of built fronts. If any are planned, the project will sufficiently justify the suitability and convenience of the proposal, considering the improvement of the public spaces it faces, and the proportion, functionality, and coherence of the resulting space. The spaces resulting from ground floor voids must have a clear, continuous reading and be free of setbacks or service elements or building-specific spaces, such as patios, ramps, stairs, downspouts, or bicycle parking. In the case of a crown-shaped building, alignment with the road will be prioritized on the ground floors, avoiding specific setbacks that do not respond to a solution arising from a careful analysis of the surroundings and that can be justified by an improvement in the configuration of public spaces."
I, on the other hand, would be in favor of making large openings on the ground floors of the 21st-century Eixample, which is Poblenou, to access the interiors of the block, and to revive Cerdà's original idea of opening the city's gardens to everyone. Gaudí conceived it this way in La Pedrera: he made a large opening at the corner, to be able to see the large interior patio with the staircase from Passeig de Gràcia. Sculptures have been exhibited there, such as the head of Carmencita, Antonio López's granddaughter, to the chimpanzee skull on wheels that Miquel Barceló invented while playing in the streets of Mali. I believe it is the best exhibition hall in the world, this large 6-story light well, at the end of a porch-shaped entrance in La Pedrera.
Also, the Edifici Mediterani, on Consell de Cent street, has a ground floor completely different from those of the traditional Eixample. Here, Bonet Castellana and Puig Torné set back the entrances to the apartments, as well as the commercial space (a very well-known appliance store for many years). The commission was made by the developer La Llave de Oro, and today it stands out as one of the best corners of the superilla.
The building on d'en Roig street by Josep Llinàs also has a cool setback, achieving exceptional spaciousness for pedestrians in one of the densest neighborhoods in the world. In this case, Llinàs does it with a setback on both the ground floor and the first floor, a fact that practically assimilates the width of the new d'en Roig street up to the doors of the ground-floor premises. It is an apparently simple gesture, but not so easy to fit in, when the program of the upper floors is housing. Now, walking through that piece of city, it seems like the only decent and possible solution. It seems so obvious! And yet, this resource has been used so little...
Maurici Pla wrote, in Catalunya: guía de arquitectura moderna, 1880-2007, an excellent review of the built project: "The determination of the three blocks takes great care of the spatial relationships between the horizontal areas: the streets and the building, public spaces and domestic domain spaces, the transition spaces. The project reflects on the value of street alignment in Ciutat Vella, an undefined line, a strip of tolerance between diverse people, outside the dynamic of infraction and sanction."
Also the Mediapro building on Diagonal, designed by Carlos Ferrater, has a large porch on the ground floor, which gives symbolic continuity to Bolivia street up to Diagonal. A fantastic bar, Daniel, was located there, where lunch menus have been served for more than twenty years with a unique quality-price ratio. A good indicator of the urban success of this place is that many architects from the Urban Planning Department of the Barcelona City Council go there to eat, instead of going to the shopping center establishments, which would be closer to them. In addition, as the building has a mirror-effect facade, groups of young people rehearse music and dance to fast rhythms, giving unique vitality to that corner.
Preventing these openings, porticos, and stilt-like situations systematically is like killing flies with cannon fire.I recognize that managing exceptions in cities is complicated. It is often argued that these spaces will be conflictive because they will accumulate dirt and provide shelter for homeless people... That is why the regulations prevent it. But frankly, what is needed is to make affordable housing, and give a roof to those who don't have one. Allow children's spaces to be placed under the porches, or for businesses to place more tables to encourage the vitality of the spaces throughout the day.
Now there is a Shade Plan that places awnings throughout the city, but porches are the oldest and most sustainable invention to guarantee shade for pedestrians. One only has to see the arcaded squares of Girona, Vic or Banyoles to understand the type of use that can be generated. Preventing these openings, porticos and stilt-house situations systematically is like killing flies with cannon fire.