Jardí Botànic de Barcelona
Main paths run in the most suitable directions, fol-
lowing the existing topography, and determine the
major planting plots, whereas the secondary path
system runs obliquely to the slope, searching for
gentler slopes, and subdividing the plots into the
final phytoepisodes. The topography plan shows
how little earth modelling was required to accom-
modate the path infrastructure. The path network
offers the visitor a choice of routes, each of a dif-
ferent botanical interest. It is a ‘Labyrinth without a
centre’ (C. Ferrater) which works in a similar way to
a golf course that allows simultaneous rounds.
The result is an irregular yet rational grid, subser-
vient to the site topography, that in a similar manner
to Cerda’s Eixampla (the town plan which allowed
Barcelona’s extension) allows great flexibility, while
ensuring the continuity of the project as a whole.
The path network
Constructing an extensive path network on a site
with slopes ranging from 10–30 per cent was a chal-
lenge. Nevertheless, the final layout of the paths
had to solve more than problems of gradient.
‘I was horrified by the vision of a long path perspec-
tive going up the hill,’ explains Bet Figueras. ‘People
would get frustrated. Instead we pursued a “face-
ted” path, winding through the garden and offering
ever-changing views.’Zigzagging paths were laid out according to the tri-
angulated network, searching for surprise sequen-
ces and different perceptions of scale: sometimes
walking above the garden, sometimes ‘among the
plants’.The brief for the competition established that the
garden should be designed in such a way as to give
the visitor a free choice of itinerary and to allow the
simultaneous circulation of visitors and maintenan-
ce vehicles. The project establishes two hierarchies
of paths: main paths, wider than 3m, and secon-
dary paths with widths ranging from 1.6–2.6m.
Main paths run almost flat, following the existing
topography according to the triangulation grid, with
slopes ranging from 4–6 per cent and occasionally
8 per cent. Secondary paths run obliquely to the
banks, searching for gentle slopes between 8 and
11 per cent. When the slope is above 11 per cent,
the paths become steps. At the meeting point of
primary and secondary paths, flat ‘fractal’ squares
are created. These squares act as resting points,
distribution nodes, belvederes, places for specimen7.11
The triangulation approach translated onto the site