I'm flying. Ecological regeneration of Granada

Cities have grown by attending only to human inhabitants. This has caused many of the non-human inhabitants of cities to take a back seat, triggering a domino effect that affects us far more than we realise. A clear example of this imbalance is the decline of pollinators. Pollination is an essential process that allows the reproduction of many plant species, which in turn are essential for the survival of other animals and for food production. In addition urban sprawl, pollution and loss of natural habitats have contributed to the decline of these species, threatening ecosystem stability.

To stitch the landscape together and close the city-nature gap, a programmable, highly industrialised connecting infrastructure is proposed, accompanied by gardens, which will function as a new landmark in the city, increasing biodiversity wherever it is installed and linking both the local public and tourists with nature. In Granada, Sacromonte’s semi-urban landscape—where the city meets the countryside—offers an ideal site for implementation of this infrastructure due to high biodiversity, proximity to water, and strategic location near the city. The project consists of four interventions. First one is the modification of the topography: four promontories with pollinator gardens are created. Depending on the colour of the flower, insects are attracted to one or the other. After an analysis of the flora and insects native to the area, four main colour groups of flowers were identified: purple, yellow, white and red, and four main families of insects. This is why it is decided to create 4 gardens, one of each colour and representing each family of insects. Second is the creation of a new path connection that integrates the existing paths and runs through the gardens and the valley; Third, an elevated walkway as viewing platform, a minimally invasive structure spanning the valley, linking its two slopes. And finally, the Interpretive pavilion of the gardens, a public program to stop along the way and learn more about the place. Each intervention offers distinct vantage points to experience the landscape, fostering a sense of immersion in the ecosystem. Beyond ecological restoration, the project aims to cultivate public awareness of environmental stewardship by reconnecting visitors with the natural world.