Xifré’s Roof: “Floating” Wild Garden

Energy and sustainability, MataAlta, Middle Density, Project, Urban Paradigms

Active Public Spaces, Barcelona, Biodiversity, Biophilic, Carbon footprint, Ecosystem, Green roof, Greenery, Heritage, Interaction, Low impact, Natural materials, Nature, Project, Recycling, Self-sufficiency, Social contributor, Spain, Sustainability, Timber, Transformation, Urban ecology, Waste management, Water recycling

Photography: Carlos Barruz

When MataAlta Studio won the green roofs open competition promoted by the Barcelona City Council, founder Sergio Carratalá knew they had a unique opportunity to reintroduce nature into the middle of this densely built Mediterranean city. Els Terrats d’en Xifré is a rehabilitation project, both in the strict architectural-patrimonial sense and in the ecosystemic sense. This green roof is situated on top of an early 19th-century block of ten buildings. The project has restored the original elements of the historic building while also creating a “floating” wild garden that enhances urban biodiversity.