Terrat Viu, a natural laboratory above Barcelona
‘Mesocosmos’ and ‘Mediterrànies del Món’ invite visitors to discover how ecosystems respond to climate change and to admire the richness of global Mediterranean flora.
On the roof of the Natural Science Museum of Barcelona, Terrat Viu unfolds 7,100 square meters of living nature, where research and biodiversity meet. Among Mediterranean meadows, five freshwater pools, and an insect hotel, an experimental area has been incorporated that functions as a true natural laboratory of climate change.
The Mesocosmos project, with its small hexagonal domes that raise the interior temperature by 2 °C, observes how ecosystems react to pressures similar to those the real world is experiencing. Soil microbes, plants, and plant communities become the silent protagonists of an experiment that seeks to identify critical thresholds before the effects become irreversible. It is an invitation to anticipate, understand, and protect nature before its fragility turns into loss.
At the same time, the Mediterrànies del Món garden transports visitors to regions as diverse as Chile, California, South Africa, Australia, and the European Mediterranean. This plant mosaic showcases the exuberance and richness of Mediterranean flowers—many threatened and endemic—and reminds us of the importance of conserving the diversity that inhabits the planet.
Terrat Viu is, thus, a miniature universe where nature and science coexist in harmony. It is a place to pause, look closely, feel the murmur of water, and let yourself be surprised by the ingenuity of life as it adapts and endures. You will find more information on the website of the Natural Science Museum of Barcelona.