Barcelona's Urban Fabric: A Cartographic Analysis

Understanding the Barcelona City Map

The city map of Barcelona represents the layout of streets and buildings in this vibrant city. While not entirely complete, it *effectively illustrates* the urban structure. It indicates the names of some neighborhoods and institutions, and *topography is clearly shown* by contour lines. Drawn by the *Cartographic Institute of Catalonia*, the map *lacks explicit indications* of scale, legend, or orientation.

Barcelona's Urban Morphology and Layout

Barcelona boasts a *distinct seaside location*, with its design influenced by both natural and man-made barriers. To the *east-southeast*, the sea forms an absolute limit, while the *north-northwest end* is naturally bounded by *Mount Tibidabo*. In the south, *Montjuïc mountain* encloses only a portion of the city on that side.

Based on its morphology, the city can be distinguished into several key areas:

Central Core: Ciutat Vella and Raval

• A *central nucleus* is located in the central-south area, near the port.
• This flat, irregularly dense plot is divided into two distinct parts: *Raval* and *Ciutat Vella*.
• These areas are well-delimited by their surrounding streets.

The Eixample: Barcelona's Ordered Expansion

• Surrounding this historical center, and extending at least four times its size, is the *orderly Eixample*.
• This district features streets intersecting at right angles, forming a characteristic grid pattern.

Surrounding Neighborhoods and Distinct Nuclei

• The Eixample is further encircled by other neighborhoods, each distinct, with some regularity in their paths but generally featuring narrower and less straight streets.
• Several other distinct nuclei can be observed:
  • To the *northeast* of the original core, there's a flat, checkerboard pattern, though less dense than the Eixample.
  • To the *north*, a series of buildings with irregular plans are visible, such as *El Carmel* and *El Guinardó*.
  • To the *west and north*, smaller buildings with open plans correspond to single-family and attached housing developments, including *Les Penitents* and *Sarrià*.

Major Road Networks in Barcelona

In addition to the peripheral highways, three major roads are prominent:

• One runs from *north to south*.
• Another extends from *southwest to northeast*.
• A third major road runs nearly from *west to east*, crossing the entire map and intersecting with the others in a circular plaza.

Key Insights from Barcelona's Urban Development

The map reveals Barcelona as a significant city with a *long and complex urban plan*, characterized by both irregular and orthogonal layouts. Its *extensive historical evolution* has resulted in successive bands of growth, creating a highly complex city with a *very dense urban fabric*. Green spaces, such as *Montjuïc*, are limited but notable, and the map clearly highlights prominent business functions, particularly the *port*.