Porxos d’en Xifré, Barcelona

Roof garden with historical background
project profile data

Area:

approx. 1,500 m²

Construction year:

2019

Landscape architect:

MataAlta Studio, Barcelona, Spain

Contractor:

Eix Verd S.L., Barcelona, Spain

System build-up:

“Heather with Lavender” with Floradrain® FD 40-E and Aquafleece®

High above the busy dockland area of Barcelona, a seemingly wild roof garden graces the historic building complex of Porxos d’en Xifré. It is a genuine attraction in Barcelona because, as the story goes, Pablo Picasso painted his very first city-scapes from this roof. The accessible roof offers a wonderful place of retreat, a world all to itself in the middle of this bustling city. The Protection Mat SSM 45 is used as the base layer of the ZinCo system build-up, followed by the drainage and water storage element Floradrain® FD 40-E. After the drainage layer which was in-stalled right across the roof, Filter Sheet SF was fitted in the pathway areas and also about 10 cm of Zincolit® crushed tiles. In subsequent planted areas, Aquafleece® AF 300 was used as the covering. Driplines are attached with velcro to this high-capillary fleece made of polyacrylic fibres at intervals of approximately 500 mm, and they are used for underfloor irrigation. Porxos d‘en Xifré won the European Bauhaus Prize 2021 in the category “Preserved and transformed cultural heritage”.

  • Bird's eye view onto a roof garden in the city
    High above the busy dockland area of Barcelona, a seemingly wild roof garden graces the historic building.
  • Lavender on a rooftop
    Forage plants for insects and birds, nesting spaces and areas of retreat are vital to achieve biodiversity.
  • Roof garden with pathways and seating areas
    Time-out alone or as part of a gathering, the residents can have a wonderful time here.
  • Roof top with substrate and drainage elements
    Recycled crushed clay tiles were used for the roof garden substrate.
  • Roof top with Floradrain® FD 40-E and Aquafleece® AF 300
    Aquafleece® AF 300, with its driplines, is installed in the plant areas for underfloor irrigation.