Uphill neighborhoods: specificites and potentialities of urban fabric in sloppy Barcelona

Abstract

This paper introduces an unprecedented topic in Barcelona and its context. The strong identity of the Eixample draws up an iconic urban image of a plain smoothly reaching the seafront, but some important parts of the city are built over very sloppy hills. Although they present some specificities and many urban deficiencies resulting from their morphogenesis and physical conditions, there has been never an overall propositive approach to all these neighborhoods. The plan commissioned by the local administration to Adolf Sotoca and Oscar Carracedo is focused on this urban reality and points out some potentialities and strategies that could provide a new urbanity to what could be named as "Barcelona on slope".