Designing Resilient Mediterranean Landscapes: Learning from the Barcelona Botanical Garden

Damla Turan
Nov 11
2 min read

Introduction

Mediterranean landscapes tell a story of resilience. They are shaped by sun, wind, and scarcity — and yet, they thrive.

In an era of changing climates and resource limitations, Mediterranean design principles offer valuable lessons in how to create landscapes that are both beautiful and sustainable. The Barcelona Botanical Garden, designed by Bet Figueras, Carlos Ferrater, and Josep Lluís Canosa, stands as a living model of this philosophy.

Learning from the Mediterranean

1. Diversity as Design Logic

The garden organizes plant species from five different Mediterranean climate zones — Southern Europe, North Africa, California, Chile, and Australia. Each zone represents a microcosm of biodiversity and adaptation, showing how similar climates generate distinct ecological expressions.

2. Topography as a Narrative Tool

Natural slopes and pathways guide visitors through an experiential journey, connecting geography and ecology. This approach transforms the site into a living atlas of Mediterranean environments — an educational and sensory landscape.

3. Water as a Precious Resource

Rainwater management is integrated into the design through natural drainage and permeable surfaces. This reflects a xeriscape mindset — treating water not as an aesthetic feature, but as a critical ecological component.

4. Material Honesty

Stone, gravel, and native vegetation blend seamlessly into the terrain, emphasizing an authenticity that comes from working with the land rather than against it.

Why It Matters

Mediterranean landscape design isn’t just a style; it’s an ecological strategy. It embodies adaptability, minimal intervention, and the poetic beauty of constraint.

By understanding how life persists in scarcity, designers can create spaces that are resilient by design — landscapes that demand less but give more.

Our Approach at Skab

At Skab, we embrace the essence of Mediterranean resilience:

Native-Driven Design: We prioritize local species adapted to site-specific conditions.
Smart Water Systems: Integrating rainwater harvesting and low-irrigation planting.
Tactile Materiality: Using stone, texture, and shadow to evoke a natural rhythm.
Adaptive Planting: Creating microclimates that evolve with time and use.

Our goal is to design living systems — landscapes that regenerate, adapt, and sustain life.

Conclusion

The Barcelona Botanical Garden teaches us that resilience is not resistance — it’s adaptation. By learning from Mediterranean ecosystems, landscape architects can build a future rooted in balance, authenticity, and natural intelligence.

At Skab, every project begins with this principle: to design landscapes that thrive where nature and design meet.

Reference: Bet Figueras, Carlos Ferrater, Josep Lluís Canosa (2025). “Jardín Botánico de Barcelona.” Landezine. https://landezine.com/jbb-jardin-botanico-barcelona/