Page "Grid plan" Paragraph 34

Ildefons Cerdà defined a concept of urban planning, based on the grid, that he applied to the Barcelona Eixample.

The Eixample grid introduced innovative design elements that made it exceptional at the time and even unique among subsequent grid plans: a ) a very large block measuring 113m by 113m ( 370 x 370 feet ) far larger than the old city blocks and larger than any Roman, Greek blocks and their mutations ( see drawing below ); b ) a 20 m ( 66 feet ) road width ( right of way ) compared to mostly 3 m in the old city c ) square blocks with truncated corners and d ) major roads perpendicular and diagonal measuring 50 m ( 164 feet ) in width.

These innovations he based on functional grounds: the block size, to enable the creation of a quiet interior open space ( 60 m by 60 m ) and allow ample sunlight and ventilation to its perimeter buildings ; the rectilinear geometry, the wide streets and boulevards to sustain high mobility and the truncated corners to facilitate turning of carts and coaches and particularly vehicles on fixed rails.