Essay fragment for Environmental Protection by Oana Maroti
By now, I have become a specialist in climate shelters in Barcelona, as well as in their evaluation.
Shade in the city is a necessity and a key part of emergency plans for dealing with high temperatures. It is summer; temperatures are lethal, and yet, if we look around, we find hardly any green areas where we can take a break and feel fresh air.
The new climate-refuge structures are inadequate. They provide barely any shade, and for shade to make a real difference, it needs to be dense. Perhaps the architect in charge is fond of bikinis—which is fine—but that approach doesn't apply here. The task would be fresh air in public spaces, not erotic imagery in full sun.
In my view, structures that facilitate the rapid growth of climbing plants to create excellent vegetative cover are an essential part of any functional architectural strategy.
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