Barcelona’s most sustainable neighbourhood

New buildings in Diagonal Mar and the adjacent 22@ tech district, have the benefit of being designed using new techniques and materials that can be more sustainable. Office building T3 Diagonal Mar, for example, is built entirely from wood. The Green Business District is designed to meet Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria, and a lower carbon footprint.

Residential developments, such as the dynamic new Antares Barcelona building, are also incorporating the best of smart tech and sustainability into their designs. The building’s extensive glass walls are thermal, not just cutting out city noise but maximising the energy efficiency of the indoor heating and cooling systems. These systems were designed bespoke for Antares by specialist firm, Kampmann, which pays great attention to the sustainability and energy efficiency of its products. The firm designed the Antares’ system with efficient tangential fans hidden in trench heaters, which have lower power consumption, greater economy and minimal noise.

Along with the local hotels and offices, Antares Barcelona also benefits from being connected to the Districlima system.

This self-sufficient, networked system provides heating, cooling and hot water to connected buildings via energy collected from existing urban waste without the need to rely primarily on fossil fuels. Diagonal Mar is one of the few neighbourhoods in the city to have the advantage of Districlima, which features in the European Commission’s Green Best Practice. It’s claimed to make energy provision around 30% more efficient than individual systems and creates lower greenhouse gas emissions than traditional energy sources. Other benefits include removal of a need for air-conditioning units and chimneys or flues, resulting in less visual impact, and a reported reduction in noise and vibrations in buildings. Since 2020, Districlima is estimated to have reduced emissions by around 21,000 tonnes of CO2, the equivalent of more than 36,000 vehicles.

When it comes to green areas, the district was literally designed around one. Diagonal Mar Park is a 14-hectare public space located on what used to be an industrial site. Created with large areas of lawn, planting and lakes, it also incorporates play areas, bridges, fountains, sports facilities and a central plaza. The overall design by architects Enric Miralles and Benedetta Tagliabue incorporates sustainable features such as solar panels, a sculptural tubular network that carries water for irrigation; porous pavements, and water cleaning and drought resistant plants that improve biodiversity. The park is a green corridor that connects the city with the Llevant beachfront and provides an important habitat for insects and birds.

On Diagonal Mar’s doorstep is another of Barcelona’s breathing spaces.

The Besos River Park, which borders the wide River Besos. Once an area of heavy industry and pollution, today, it’s 115-hectares of clean, green wetlands, wildlife habitats and leisure routes for walkers, birdwatchers and cyclists.

Much of Barcelona’s pollution is from motor vehicles, but residents of Diagonal Mar benefit from clean air generated by the proximity of the sea, wider streets and easy access to public transport. The district is well served by Barcelona’s metro and bus system, which is considered one of the greenest in Europe, and the planned new tramline will make travel to the city centre fast and even more sustainable. Modern trams are considered one of the cleanest forms of transport, as well as the quietest and smoothest. When operational, the new service will whisk you to from Antares Barcelona’s doorstep to Passeig de Gràcia in around 15 minutes.