Rosa M. Torra, architect; Josep Vall, civil engineer; With: Sonia Rodríguez, architect, Anna Lleixà, Joan Gual agricultural engineers

The project urbanizes the area considered an urban park, a result of the development of the Can Llong neighborhood in the city of Sabadell. Sabadell is a medium-sized city of almost 200,000 inhabitants, located 12 km inland from Barcelona.

The area in question runs along the final stretch of the so-called Torrent de la Romeua, just before it becomes an underground water collection system. The area is divided into two sections: the western linear zone that comprises only one of the riverbanks of Torrent, and the more compact eastern zone that includes both riverbanks and also the riverbed.

The park merges its urban surroundings with the natural environs in a relatively well-conserved zone. There also exists the possibility of connectivity with protected areas nearby. The eastern zone, that by dimensions and location is the center of the park, was built from the junction of two interconnecting paths. These two routes descend toward the riverbed with a smooth slope of up to 6 percent. These two paved routes are two fingers that emerge from the city and embrace the stream. The routes are of similar appearance and equal dimensions but were constructed using methods that depend on their individual locations and that drew upon their immediate surroundings. The pedestrian route offers continuity between the two paths across the meadow that forms the riverbed. In rainy periods, the route could be cut off if the riverbed is flooded. One of the premises of the project is that the civil works will take no intervention when it comes to the possible flooding of the path. We must understand that we are working with a natural system, which is very dynamic due to the presence of water, and that it needs to be compatible with urban usage.

The best way to deal with this issue is to anticipate from the beginning that the park will not be the same at all times of the year. We must assume that part of the riverbed will possibly be flooded in spring and in autumn. In these rainy periods some of the water that circulates underground will emerge to the top of the riverbed and will be visible. The western zone forms a third path that connects the city with the entire network of rural paths that connects Sabadell with the protected areas of La Mola and the mountains of Sant Llorenç de Munt.