Clot Park

The Parc del Clot is a fine example of integrating former industrial elements into a contemporary green space. Designed in 1986 by architects Daniel Freixa and Vicent Miranda, it occupies the former RENFE railway site, where several structures – walls, arches, windows, and a chimney – have been preserved and incorporated, giving the park a unique identity. For over a century, railway tracks and workshops occupied the area, dividing the Sant Martí district between the market and the town hall. The creation of the park reconnected these two hubs and linked Avinguda Meridiana with the Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes. The park stands out for its rich vegetation, combining date palms, plane trees, stone pines, holm oaks, cypresses, bitter orange trees, weeping willows, as well as a wide variety of shrubs such as laurels, lantanas, and pittosporums. This diversity enhances both the landscape value and the biodiversity of the site. The monumental remains of the old workshops structure the space and create striking perspectives, such as the 25-metre aqueduct that crosses a pond and ends in a waterfall. Notable artistic elements include Rites of Spring (1986) by Bryan Hunt, a bronze sculpture depicting a jet of water, as well as the Pinya and Cascada fountains, both recently restored. The layout combines white metal porticos running through the park, paved and sandy paths, playgrounds, sports courts, and seating areas. Further on, the concrete gives way to grassy mounds and wooded areas, enhanced by a lake, waterfalls, and relaxing spaces such as the petanque courts.