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The new Tres Xemeneies park: nature and protection against storms
The future coastal park of Tres Xemeneies promises to transform the area. The project is committed to natural and resilient solutions. Citizen participation and flood protection will be key. Find out how the Besòs coastline will change and what challenges this ambitious plan faces.
The Consorcio del Besòs has given the green light to the design of an innovative coastal park that will protect the Tres Xemeneies area from storms and flooding. This week, heavy rains have put the esplanade between the wastewater collector and the old power station to the test, leaving the site completely flooded and highlighting the urgent need for effective solutions in the face of climate change.
The new park will cover 89,502 square metres, including the flooded land and the surroundings of the Besòs delta. The project, selected from five proposals, has a budget of 13.7 million euros and is based on the creation of a Mediterranean pine forest that will act as a natural barrier between the coast and the future audiovisual neighbourhood, where the Catalunya Media City hub will be located.
The Generalitat highlights that the park will integrate dunes, lagoons and natural drainage systems, allowing for comprehensive water management and active protection against the effects of extreme weather. In addition, the Llevant collector will be buried and moved inland, four metres above sea level, following initial approval from the Área Metropolitana de Barcelona.
The winning design, by Landlab, Aldayjover y Aquática, proposes an elevated 'sponge' walkway five and a half metres above the sea, designed to withstand flooding and storms. The park will gently connect with inhabited areas, removing barriers and making access easier.
The jury especially valued the renaturalisation proposal, which creates a gradual transition between the city and natural spaces, as well as infrastructure to retain and drain water from extreme rainfall. Sunken meadows and siphon systems will channel excess water directly to the sea.
The plan also prioritises connectivity with new civic routes and the balance between social uses and ecosystem restoration. Strips of adapted vegetation will be planted to increase biodiversity and the climate resilience of the area.
Finally, the design aligns with plans for coastal regeneration and the renaturalisation of the Besòs, addressing both social and ecological needs and ensuring the coexistence of human activities and environmental values.