Environmental and health effects of the Barcelona superblocks
Pérez, Catherine (Institut de Recerca Sant Pau)
Palència, Laia (Institut de Recerca Sant Pau)
López Medina, María José (Institut de Recerca Sant Pau)
León-Gómez, Brenda Biaani (Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Atenció Primària Jordi Gol)
Puig-Ribera, A. (Universitat de Vic - Universitat Central de Catalunya)
Gómez-Gutiérrez, Anna (Institut de Recerca Sant Pau)
Nieuwenhuijsen, M. (ISGlobal)
Carrasco-Turigas, G. (ISGlobal)
Borrell i Thió, Carme (Institut de Recerca Sant Pau)
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Date:	2025
Abstract:	Background: The superblocks model of Barcelona (Spain) seeks to reorganize the city based on reversing the distribution of public space between vehicles and people by prioritizing citizens, thus improving their environmental conditions and quality of life. The objective of this paper was to describe the effects on environmental, health and quality of life of the first three superblocks implemented, discuss the lessons learned, and provide recommendations for the future. Methods: The evaluation included different approaches depending on the superblock analyzed: A pre-post-intervention health survey, environmental measures of air quality, the Microscale Audit of Urban Landscapes for Pedestrians (MAPS), an observational study on target areas of physical activity (SOPARC), ethnographic guerrilla studies, and focus groups. Results: Residents and workers in all three of the evaluated superblocks reported a perceived improvement in well-being, tranquillity and quality of sleep, some reduction in noise and pollution and an increase in social interaction. The built environment of the superblocks clearly influenced walkability, and the lower car traffic volume improved air quality measures. In one of the superblocks, the same intervention calmed traffic in one of the areas but not in another. Conclusions: Although on a small scale, this evaluation of the environmental, and health effects of the superblocks provides support for expanding the model to other areas of the city.
Grants:	Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2021/SGR-01462 Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca CEX2023-0001290-S
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	City planning ; Health determinants ; Health in all policies ; Program evaluation ; Quality of life
Published in:	BMC public health, Vol. 25 Núm. 1 (december 2025) , p. 634, ISSN 1471-2458

DOI: 10.1186/s12889-025-21835-z
PMID: 39962528

12 p, 1.6 MB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Health sciences and biosciences > Institut de Recerca Sant Pau
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles