h3o architects

The Communal Barbecue is the transformation of a forgotten parking lot on the outskirts of Castell d’Aro, Girona, into a public garden dedicated to gathering and shared meals. Originally intended as a park and later reduced to an empty asphalt field, the site already had a living core: a small public barbecue informally used by residents and cyclists on weekends. The project builds on this existing social energy, recognizing food as a powerful catalyst for connection.
The intervention reimagines the barbecue as the heart of the space, re-naturalizing the area with trees and Mediterranean aromatic plants. Clad in traditional blue tiles from La Bisbal, sheltered by a new pergola and topped by a symbolic chimney that lifts the smoke above the treetops, the structure becomes both a visual and social landmark.
Completed in 2024 for the Ajuntament de Castell d’Aro, the project is a public space of 1,738.90 m² dedicated to garden, park, and communal life, built with a budget of €206,578.90 + VAT, restoring identity and activity to a once-forgotten urban site.