Barcelona
Spain
Barcelona
Barcelona is located on the mediterranean coast of the Iberic peninsula. It’s the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, and its urban area is extended to more than 300 municipalities within the Province of Barcelona. Known for its modern architecture, Barcelona is one of the biggest cultural, economic, and financial centers in southwestern Europe.
City population
1,6 million
Population density
16 000/km²
City SDG index
59,1
Subjective well-being ranking
#27 (2020)
Average Temperature
15,5°C
Köppen classification
Mediterranean Climate (Csa)
Why RECETAS in Barcelona?
A city with some social and economic problems…
%
of adults ages 18-64, 19% of women and 16% of men experience poor mental health (1)
%
of the metropolitan population experiences some form of relational loneliness (2)
%
of low-income population at risk of social exclusion (3)
… but the geographical location may help to implement NBSP activites.
Surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea (East), the Collserola Mountain (West) and rivers (El Llobregat and Besòs), the metropolitan area of Barcelona also presents a wide variety of forested and botanical areas.
hectares of total green cover (4)
of green surface per inhabitant (5)
hectares of parks and gardens in the urban nucleus (6)
of coastline in province (7)
sources
4) Source: Ajuntament de Barcelona
5) Source: Barcelona.cat
6) Source: Ajuntament de Barcelona
7) Source: Barcelona Turisme
How will NBSPs be tested?
Barcelona has 4 different collaborating institutions for this project, which are the Universitat de Vic – Universitat Central de Catalunya, the Fundació Salut i Envelliment from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, the Barcelona Institute for Global Health and Health Department (Agència de Salut Pública de Catalunya), which is also the project coordinator institution.
Barcelona institutions will carry out a clinical trial, in coordination with the rest of the cities.
This study will include people older than 18 years who live in socio-economically deprived urban areas from the Barcelona province with a high rate of immigration, unemployment and an aging population at risk of social isolation.
The river areas recovered from the Llobregat and Besòs rivers, the sea coast, the parks integrated into the nuclei or associated with forest areas, and the historical and botanical gardens distributed in the metropolitan area of Barcelona will form part of the territory in which the activities will take place.
Example of good practices
In Barcelona, 67% of rooftops are flat, and therefore generally accessible. 20% of these present optimal characteristics to get solar advantage. The City Council is promoting actions to activate roofs in existing and new buildings and get the most out of them from a social, environmental and energetic perspective.
« Urban agriculture is promoted as a healthy, social, community-led practice for the city’s residents. It is a window to the countryside that raises awareness of agricultural principles, improves physical and mental health, and builds community. » (www.alimentaciosostenible.barcelona/en/protecting-planet/urban-agriculture)
« Increasingly the streets, parks and even the beaches of the city are occupied spaces for the realization of physical activity through programs promoted by the Barcelona City Council, the Generalitat de Catalunya and other organizations or from the community. » (www.barcelona.cat/lesportinclou/es/oferta-de-actividad-fisica-en-el-espacio-publico.php)
Get in touch
Are you an organization based in Barcelona and dealing with these topics? Do you want to share your experience ? Are you interested in getting involved in RECETAS activities?
Contact us !
Project Coordinator
Dr. Jill Litt
jill.litt@isglobal.org
Project Manager
Ashby L. Sachs
ashby.sachs@isglobal.com
Project Assistant
Pol Jiménez
pol.jimenez@isglobal.org
Researcher
Mireia Gascón
mireia.gascon@isglobal.org
UViC | Universitat de Vic – Universitat Central de Catalunya
Responsible of the randomized trial in Barcelona
Associate Professor at the Department of Social Sciences and Community Health at the Faculty of Health and Welfare Sciences of the University of Vic-UCC
Researcher on ageing with a special focus on loneliness
Laura Coll Planas
laura.coll@uvic.cat
Researcher & Health Psychologist
Laia Brionnes Buixassa
laia.briones@uvic.cat
Environmentalist – Researcher & PhD Student
Montse Masó Aguado
montse.maso@uvic.cat
Researcher
Sergi Blancafort Alias
sergi.blancafort@uab.cat
Local project management
Alexandre Domingoalexandre.domingo@uab.cat
Data Analyst
Marta Roqué i Figuls
marta.roque@uab.cat
Director & Manager
Joan Colom Farran
joan.colom@gencat.cat
Coordinator & Implementation
Cristina Casajuana Kögel
cristina.casajuana@gencat.cat
Expert & Adviser
Lidia Segura García
lidia.segura@gencat.cat
