Reclaiming the streets: the architects clawing back Europe’s car-centric spaces
The European Prize for Urban Public Space’s shortlist highlights projects helping people cope with climate crisis
TL;DR
- The European Prize for Urban Public Space highlights projects that convert car infrastructure into public spaces addressing climate change.
- Examples include a temporary roundabout in Logroño, Spain, turned into a splash pool and steam room, and Barcelona's Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes, where undergrounding roads created green space.
- Antwerp's Zuidpark transformed a large car park into an 800-meter green space with rapidly growing trees and rain gardens to manage extreme precipitation.
- Despite creating new public spaces, some projects still include parking facilities, raising questions about their sustainability.
- Other shortlisted projects include the Leça Green Corridor in Portugal and Peace Park in Italy.