Architects: Vora with Toni Riba
Year: 2020
Photography: Adrià Goula
Project Team: Alex Etxeberría, Pol Bosch, Zoí Casimiro, Mohamed El-Jaanin, Lorenz Krauth, Quim Olea, Marina Pina, Andrea Salvador
Engineering: Prodop
Structure: Uma
Budget: Rosa Romero
Agronomy: Roser Vives
Lighting: Anoche
Construction Direction: PCG
Client: Foment de Ciutat – BIMSA – Council of Barcelona
City: Barcelona
Country: Spain
Address: Rambla del Raval, Plaça Vázquez Montalbán, Plaça Salvador Seguí
Rambla del Raval and Surrounding Area public space renovation by Vora in Barcelona has redefined key nodes of the South Raval through precise, small-scale urban interventions. Completed in 2020, the project revisits the legacy of the PERI Raval regeneration plan with a new focus on spatial continuity, accessibility, and social inclusion. By enhancing permeability, comfort, and utilization, the design prioritizes active community use without heavy infrastructure, enabling a gradual and adaptable transformation of the urban fabric.
The Rambla del Raval and Surrounding Area project in Barcelona, designed by Vora, is part of the city’s “Pla de Barris” initiative aimed at revitalizing the South Raval neighborhood. Framed within a strategic planning phase from 2016 to 2017, the project was developed between 2017 and 2018 and built between 2019 and 2020. It addresses spatial and social shortcomings that persisted even after the implementation of the 1985 PERI Raval regeneration plan. Instead of applying large-scale urban solutions, the architects opted for localized, low-impact actions that improve access, comfort, and usage of public space.
The intervention focuses on three interconnected public areas: Rambla del Raval, Plaça Vázquez Montalbán, and Plaça Salvador Seguí, along with their connecting streets. While earlier redevelopment efforts improved basic conditions in the area, many spatial relationships and community dynamics remained unresolved. The new strategy employs minimal yet precise interventions designed to support the equitable use of space and enhance daily public life.
Permeability was a key priority. The design emphasizes transversal movement, disrupting the rigid linearity of the Rambla and encouraging cross-connections between spaces. Routes such as the Salvador Seguí–Vázquez Montalbán–Rambla–Folch i Torres axis were restructured to improve visibility, fluidity, and interaction between adjacent areas.
Comfort was addressed by eliminating physical barriers and improving ground surfaces with soft, paved areas. Shading elements were added, and existing street furniture was reconfigured to encourage informal gathering and resting. Special attention was given to Plaça Vázquez Montalbán, which previously lacked clarity and functionality. Here, spatial gestures introduced a stronger identity and made the square more usable for a broader range of activities.
Utilization strategies provided the groundwork for new types of public engagement. The design activated previously overlooked or fragmented zones and met needs across age groups. Areas were rebalanced to avoid social segregation, with reorganized terraces allowing for more efficient and less intrusive use of public space. These modifications support flexible, inclusive uses and reflect an ongoing shift toward community-centered urban planning.
Commissioned by Foment de Ciutat, BIMSA, and the Ajuntament de Barcelona, the project was carried out under the direction of PCG. Prodop provided engineering services, with UMA handling structural input. Lighting design was developed by Anoche, and agronomy was led by Roser Vives. The construction budget was overseen by Rosa Romero. Final documentation by Adrià Goula captures a project that rethinks urban transformation through calibrated and context-aware design.
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Project Location
Address: Rambla del Raval, Barcelona, Spain
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
