Transformation to a ‘grade A’ building Portal de l’Àngel, Barcelona

Together with our JV partner Ares, we acquired the El Corte Inglés department store in the heart of Barcelona, with the aim of transforming it into a highly sustainable, mixed-use prime location. The JV project represents an estimated total investment of just over €200 million. 

For this grade A building (a building with the pinnacle quality that can be achieved) has high ambitions in terms of ESG performance. The materials used will be natural and locally sourced, aligning with the principles of biophilic design. This approach not only fosters a deeper connection with nature but also enhances wellbeing by integrating organic elements into the space. Besides this local and social aspect, we integrate in the drafted plans, there will be targets on: 

• Responsible Water Management => Grey waters are recycled for irrigation. 
• Urban Greening (factor) => Terraces of the building will incorporate local species for creating an urban oasis. Net gain of circa 3.000sqm of green areas.
• Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) => Best in class environmental certificates (Well Gold and Leed Platinum).

Before we started creating and drafting plans, we aimed to take the right choices when looking at the challenges of the building. We discussed the following topics and put our targets first, highlighting them in the definite plans.

Responsible Water Management 
Strategies for achieving efficient water consumption include rainwater harvesting and restoring natural water systems.  

How can we tackle the lack of water in Cataluña (as the region where Barcelona is located suffers frequent droughts)? 
We focus on the reuse of water. For gardening we will be using local species which do not require much water and use drip irrigation and recycle rainwater. It is important to make people aware of the importance of water and how to (re)use it. 

Urban Greening
An important purpose of urban greening involves integrating green spaces such as gardens, and green roofs into urban environments.

This serves multiple purposes:

• Enhancing aesthetics and improving residents’ wellbeing.
• Mitigating the urban heat island effect.
• Improving air quality.

Which brings us to the question; what can we do with the roof? We can provide the roof with solar panels, green areas with local species of plants. The users of the building can benefit from the natural isolation that plants can offer. We want to create the ability to have internal events to engage the users of the building.

Biodiversity Net Gain
Urban greening contributes to biodiversity net gain by creating habitats for native plants and animals. It ensures that development projects enhance biodiversity rather than deplete it.

How can we improve the inner space of the office’s areas? Create a light well with plants and a tree so the user(s) of the building can enjoy natural light. We would like to invite people to use the stairs instead of the elevator by showing the stairs through a glass wall.

By investing in sustainable practices and raising awareness among the residents and users of a building, a city can have a positive impact on the environment and improve the quality for its residents. These initiatives play a crucial role in creating sustainable and resilient cities.