Barcelona's Port Vell will undergo a profound transformation in the short term, a process that began its first phase this Monday with the inauguration of seven climatic islands designed to make the stay more pleasant and less hot across more than 3,000 square meters. After this appetizer, Barcelona residents will see the old Imax cinema demolished this year, while waiting for the Liceu to finish analyzing the technical and economic viability of locating its second headquarters in the freed-up space. According to the president of the Port of Barcelona, Damià Calvet, everything indicates that the balance will be positive and will be finally approved in April, after the project already passed a first phase of analysis and obtained the endorsement of the two administrations involved, the Port and the Barcelona City Council.
Another demolition that will also occur in this area of the seafront will be that of the also old Maremagnum cinemas, which will give way to creating a public space larger than the current one, which is confined to the Plaza de la Odissea, Calvet points out. If the demolition of the Imax depends entirely on the Port of Barcelona and is only awaiting the launch of the bidding process, this second demolition is linked to the start of the reform that the shopping center will undertake to be more open.
All of this will be accompanied by the redevelopment of Moll Espanya, which will link with the new Via Laietana promoted by the City Council. The new Fishermen's Market will also be one of the pieces of this transformation. With the project already finished and about to be tendered, Calvet has indicated that this space is also expected to begin works this 2021, towards the end of the year.
While this set of changes is yet to arrive, the Port of Barcelona has already launched the new climatic islands, which row in the same direction, that of making a more friendly Port Vell and connected to the city. With an investment of 300,000 euros, the action has consisted of the creation of new meeting, rest, and play spaces with climatic comfort. They are located on the Moll de la Fusta and the Moll de la Barceloneta, next to Paseo Joan de Borbó.
To do this, more vegetation and wooden seats and loungers have been incorporated. New shaded areas have also been created, and devices that will release water to cool the environment have been incorporated, taking into account that this area is one of the hottest in the city.
"We have thought of every square centimeter to put it at the service of climate action," Calvet emphasizes. The new benches and plants, all of them from Mediterranean regions, with low water consumption and resistant to salinity, are complemented by a low thermal index pavement, capable of reducing the ambient temperature by up to four degrees.
SCOB Arquitectura i Paisatge, made up of Sergi Carulla and Oscar Blasco, has been in charge of designing these climatic islands, a project that has lasted for the last two years. The firm had already worked in the Port de Barcelona, being in charge of the renovation and expansion project of the Marina Port Vell building. They also design urban furniture, such as that included in Marina Port Vell, and skateparks, such as those in Nou Barris and Mar Bella.