Rambla de la Girada

The Rambla de la Girada in Vilafranca del Penedès is an urban green corridor that links, to the north, the Park over the railway cover and surrounding neighbourhoods, and, to the south, the agricultural lands, fostering a walkable, calm, and accessible city, free from private vehicle congestion.

Originally built in the late 1990s as the central spine of a new neighbourhood, it was designed for vehicle circulation and roadside parking, with a central pedestrian strip planted with plane trees that have become iconic features, providing shade and character. Three decades on, this section of the rambla is being reimagined to meet contemporary needs.

The redesign introduces a Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS) that filters, retains, and infiltrates rainwater, combining cobbles, permeable surfaces, and granular materials to reduce runoff and support groundwater recharge. The system is complemented by biotopes, recycled-material embankments, and basins with overflow channels to manage heavy rainfall.

At the heart of the rambla, three flat, stepped terraces with 90 cm level differences are linked by accessible ramps, creating space for sanded paving, street furniture, and children’s play areas. Natural stone steps act both as retaining structures and amphitheatres, allowing for floral planting and increasing green space. Between zones of differing character, a linear strip integrates the existing plane trees with new native vegetation, connected to the side areas by four bridges, alongside new tree alignments and individual trees that provide shade and enhance environmental quality.

In line with the project’s sustainability principles, the stone steps are made from solid local sandstone, preserving the quarry grooves for authenticity, reducing manufacturing processes, and lowering their carbon footprint. Steps located within green areas are constructed from pine and chestnut stakes, designed to gradually blend into the surrounding vegetation over time.

By combining permeable pavements with maximised green areas, the project contributes to reducing the urban heat island effect and improving the thermal comfort of the surrounding environment.