The role of trees in the urban evolution of Barcelona (1050-1992)

Abstract

The objective of this article is to explain the evolution and the role of the trees in the growth of the city of Barcelona. We have divided it into four periods. The first, goes from the middle of the 11th century to the beginning of the 18th.The characteristic of this period is the non-existence of wooded public spaces but, on the other hand, there were many cloisters, internal and privats gardens, courtyards and orchards full of trees and plants. The second stage goes from the beginning of the 18th to the middle of the 19th; in this period, the densification of Barcelona and elimination of almost all the green spaces inside the walled city. The third part runs from 1859 to 1939; it signifies the birth and consolidation of expansion of trees planted along the new wide streets. The fourth period goes from 1940 to 1992, mostly under Franco’s dictatorship, we observe an urban speculative development in which the majority of the gardens dissaperead. Later, when democracy was established again (1978), parks and gardens returned to Barcelona.

Keywords: trees, Barcelona, Urbanism, Historical Geography, Cultural Geography.