<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Since 1980, Spain has introduced urban regeneration plans in various cities with the aim of integrating the river environment into the urban system. This process has proved most challenging in cities whose rivers present extreme features, as is the case with Terrassa (Catalonia, NE Spain), a medium-sized city (215,000 inhabitants in 2013) whose three river courses are prone to flash flooding. Through the critical analysis of urban planning undertaken in the city from the fifties to the present day, we show that the urban evolution of each of the three intermittent streams has differed significantly. Thus, while the plans affecting <italic>el Torrent de Vallparadís</italic> have led to the construction of Terrassa’s central park, the plans for <italic>la Riera del Palau</italic> and <italic>la Riera de les Arenes</italic> have impeded, in their own ways, full urban integration.</p></abstract>

Since 1980, Spain has introduced urban regeneration plans in various cities with the aim of integrating the river environment into the urban system. This process has proved most challenging in cities whose rivers present extreme features, as is the case with Terrassa (Catalonia, NE Spain), a medium-sized city (215,000 inhabitants in 2013) whose three river courses are prone to flash flooding. Through the critical analysis of urban planning undertaken in the city from the fifties to the present day, we show that the urban evolution of each of the three intermittent streams has differed significantly. Thus, while the plans affecting el Torrent de Vallparadís have led to the construction of Terrassa’s central park, the plans for la Riera del Palau and la Riera de les Arenes have impeded, in their own ways, full urban integration.

Urban planning in riverfront areas. A case study of a mediterranean city: Terrassa (Catalonia, NE Spain)

Department of Physical Geography and Regional Studies, Faculty of Geography, University of Barcelona, Spain

Miscellanea Geographica

This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Public License.

Since 1980, Spain has introduced urban regeneration plans in various cities with the aim of integrating the river environment into the urban system. This...

Urban planning in riverfront areas. A case study of a mediterranean city: Terrassa (Catalonia, NE Spain)

Published Online: Oct 26, 2015

Page range: 14 - 21

Received: Feb 01, 2015

Accepted: Aug 19, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/mgrsd-2015-0015

Keywords
Urban planning, urban regeneration, riverfront, Spanish medium-sized cities, Terrassa

© 2015 Albert Santasusagna Riu et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Public License.

Urban planning in riverfront areas. A case study of a mediterranean city: Terrassa (Catalonia, NE Spain)

Published Online: Oct 26, 2015

Page range: 14 - 21

Received: Feb 01, 2015

Accepted: Aug 19, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/mgrsd-2015-0015

KeywordsUrban planning, urban regeneration, riverfront, Spanish medium-sized cities, Terrassa

© 2015 Albert Santasusagna Riu et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Public License.

Keywords
Urban planning, urban regeneration, riverfront, Spanish medium-sized cities, Terrassa