Barcelona
Capital of Catalonia, Spain.
At a glance
| Source | Author | Role | In one line |
|---|---|---|---|
| In Barcelona, a Little Energy Advice Goes a Long Way | Peter Yeung | subject | Roman Tresens Gallard, a pensioner in social housing, got a bill over €100 a month in 2018 and went to social services, which sent him to one of 13 Energy Advising Points. |
| How ‘Superblocks’ Can Create People-Centered Cities | Kaja Šeruga | subject | The article traces Barcelona from Cerdà’s 1855 grid plan through car takeover of streets, the 1980s superblock idea, the 2016 push for 503 superblocks, and the 2023 government change that halted the program. |
Sub-places
In Barcelona, a Little Energy Advice Goes a Long Way — Peter Yeung (2025)
Source: Original · Readwise highlight
Living alone in a social housing apartment in Barcelona, Gallard, now 74, was in an extremely precarious position.
- Role: subject
- In the article: Roman Tresens Gallard, a pensioner in social housing, got a bill over €100 a month in 2018 and went to social services, which sent him to one of 13 Energy Advising Points. Advice on unplugging appliances and hot water use cut his bills 75-80 percent; the program began in 2017 and supported more than 220,000 people by 2023.
- Why it matters: The city is the article’s case study of a municipal program against energy poverty.
How ‘Superblocks’ Can Create People-Centered Cities — Kaja Šeruga (2025)
Source: How ‘Superblocks’ Can Create People-Centered Cities · Original · Readwise highlight
In Barcelona, which is laid out in a uniform grid, the classic superblock is a square of nine blocks intersected by four streets, with two out of three parallel streets closed to vehicle traffic.
- Role: subject
- In the article: The article traces Barcelona from Cerdà’s 1855 grid plan through car takeover of streets, the 1980s superblock idea, the 2016 push for 503 superblocks, and the 2023 government change that halted the program.
- Why it matters: The city and its grid are the subject of the story; the superblock idea is shaped by Barcelona’s uniform street layout.