The rooftop of Porxos d’en Xifré is a rehabilitation project, both in the strict architectural and heritage sense, and for its ecosystem. This green roof is located on top of a 10-building complex from the early 19th century. The project has restored the original elements of the historical building, while creating a “floating” wild garden that improves urban biodiversity.

The aim of this design concept is to strengthen the connection with the natural environment by means of vegetation. This principle generates economic, environmental and public health benefits for the occupants of the building and for the urban environment. It also serves to restore and promote local ecosystems. The planting design of this project focuses on biodiversity, functionality and aesthetics. With over 40 plant species and nearly 10,000 plants, the garden features mostly native perennials that were chosen because they are aromatic, beneficial to pollinating insects, drought- and disease-resistant, and pollution-filtering. This careful selection provides year-round flowering as well as nesting and feeding sites for local and migratory birds. The design includes several ponds, insect hotels and nesting structures. 

The project offers a space that is full of life for the inhabitants of the entire 10-building street block to enjoy. The design avoids straight angles and parallel lines to help its visitors escape the rigour of the urban grid and relax in a softer, more welcoming environment. The careful positioning of benches and squares with an organic geometry is designed to improve social interaction.

Each material has been carefully chosen to reduce the carbon footprint and environmental impact of this project: from recycled gravel made from brick remnants to the reuse of the building’s original timber; from traditional lime mortar to the elimination of Portland cement, and from FSC certified wood to locally supplied native species. Even the structural design considers the inherent load capacity of the building to accommodate the earth dunes with no other reinforcement than the rehabilitation of elements with pre-existing pathologies.

This project incorporates the most sustainable use of water and energy resources.