About

Carrer del Parlament in Barcelona’s Sant Antoni district has undergone a transformation that encapsulates the city’s shift toward greener, calmer and more people-centred streets. Once a relatively ordinary Eixample thoroughfare dominated by parked cars and through-traffic, it has gradually evolved into a model of the contemporary “superilla” or superblock concept — a network of pedestrian-priority streets that rebalance mobility, ecology and urban life.

In the new layout, the carriageway is narrowed and crossings simplified, while broad pavements, trees, and seating areas take precedence. The materials palette favours warm-toned granite and continuous kerb-free surfaces, creating a sense of openness and accessibility. The earlier asphalt has been replaced by textured paving that signals pedestrian priority yet allows service access. Street lighting has been completely renewed: slender LED columns provide soft, even illumination at a pedestrian scale, reducing glare and energy use while making the street safer and more inviting after dark.

Urban furniture plays a key role in the redesign. Modular wooden benches and integrated planters punctuate the pavement, offering informal gathering spots under newly planted shade trees. Drinking fountains, bicycle stands and waste bins are positioned with care to avoid clutter, while public art elements and tactile paving improve inclusivity and wayfinding.

Small play areas and interactive features are being introduced at key corners, giving children and families reasons to linger rather than pass through. Greenery is not confined to tree lines: rain gardens and linear planters run along the façades and intersections, absorbing runoff and introducing a seasonal rhythm of colour. These planted zones, combined with permeable paving, help the street function as part of the city’s blue-green infrastructure, cooling the microclimate and reducing flood risk. In summer, the result is a noticeably milder, more comfortable environment.

The overall effect is a fundamentally different urban experience. Carrer del Parlament, already known for its lively cafés and small independent shops, now operates as a neighbourhood living room rather than a traffic corridor. The transformation supports local business, fosters social interaction and enhances environmental quality — all while aligning with Barcelona’s ambition to reclaim one-third of its street space for people and nature by the end of the decade.

In essence, Carrer del Parlament demonstrates how Barcelona is moving beyond tactical urbanism toward permanent, design-led change. It shows that a street need not be grand to make a statement: with thoughtful planning, detailed craftsmanship and community focus, even a modest local road can become a powerful symbol of urban renewal and civic pride.