Literature review on Superblocks’ effects on the urban realm

Abstract

This deliverable is one of the initial steps towards achieving the TuneOurBlock project objectives. The aim of the document is to provide a foundation for succeeding tasks in the TuneOurBlock project by performing a literature review on Superblocks and similar urban transformational interventions to evaluate their effects on the urban realm. The document consists of four chapters. After the problem framing in the introduction, which largely draws upon socio-ecological unsustainability of current urban development, the deliverable firstly offers some valuable insight into characteristics, rationale and the evolution of the Superblock concept in Barcelona (chapter 2.1) - from the original theoretical model of Salvador Rueda (2014), integrated in the city vision and planning documents, to the new Superilla Barcelona strategy (2020), based on the lessons learned during the first implementations. Secondly, the deliverable offers an overview of other selected urban interventions, which were implemented in cities across the globe (chapter 2.2). We found out that most concepts resulted in increased liveability and reduced traffic but they were mostly not able to induce a systemic change. The comparison showed that Superblock is in fact the most ambitious urban transformational intervention as it combines city-wide application, involves a strong climate-change related component, includes citizens' empowerment and it is aiming for a long-term structural change. The third chapter presents the state-of-the-art on existing Superblock implementations and analyses their impact on urban sustainability, based on the available literature and informant interviews. The description of three Barcelona Superblocks (chapter 3.1) shows flexibility and deviation from the original Rueda's model after the Poblenou experience (2016), which showed some weakness and offered valuable lessons. Somehow less radical Sant Antoni approach (2018), applied in the whole neighborhood, prioritises the extension and continuity of green axes over the creation of isolated ‘pacified pockets’, has later become the model to be reproduced throughout the city. Barcelona cases are followed by the descriptions of other executed and planned attempts to implement Superblocks in other cities. Impact analysis of existing Superblock implementations from the urban sustainability perspective, following the EEA sustainability framework (chapter 3.2.1), showed strong presence of resilience, health, low-carbon, green and inclusion components (less the circular one) of Superblocks at the theoretical level. From the practical impact point of view, the evidence is scarce due to few Superblocks implementations and absence of a continuous monitoring process, despite the initial ambition to do so by developing numerous indicators. The document also includes a review of effects of mobility interventions of Superblock and other similar concepts on traffic flows (chapter 3.2.2), which showed somehow mixed results. Existing implementation Superblock experiences (chapter 3.2.3) also revealed some key barriers and lessons learned, such as political struggle for authority, discontent over lack of public participation, necessary balance of “tactical urbanism” and “structural urbanism, and need for a quick transition from the functional to the structural implementation, also valuable for other future implementations elsewhere. The conclusion (chapter 4) summarizes the deliverable findings and reveals main strengths, weaknesses and knowledge gaps related to the Superblock concept. Superblocks’ transformative nature, marrying traffic regulation schemes with the repurposing of public space, combination of top-down and bottom-up action and integration into municipal plans, make the concept a promising a multiple-leverage-point intervention that could act as a catalyst for additional systemic transitions required for a societal transformation to sustainability. The concept is still evolving and has the potential for expanding with other important aspects of urban liveability.