Urban Morphology of Valencia: A Historical Perspective
Urban Centers: Metropolitan Area
Urban sprawl significantly impacts major cities. A metropolitan area administratively encompasses several municipalities with intertwined economic and social relations. These areas typically exhibit the following characteristics:
- A major city heads the area, with its economic activity extending outwards and influencing the surrounding region.
- Strong economic and social relationships exist between the central city and surrounding nuclei.
- The central city provides employment and services to the area’s population.
- Economic activities in the area often stem from the central city.
- An essential communications network connects the central city with the surrounding areas.
From a social perspective, metropolitan areas often feature a vibrant urban lifestyle, attracting a young and diverse population. Their spatial structure typically follows two models: the concentric crown and the radial or sectoral model, where sectors specialize in specific land uses.
In Spain, metropolitan areas originated in the early 20th century when cities like Madrid, Barcelona, and Bilbao integrated neighboring rural municipalities. However, full metropolisation occurred between 1969 and 1975. Following the economic crisis of 1975, these areas underwent significant transformations, including territorial expansion and the decentralization of population and economic activity from the central city to surrounding nuclei. This has created urban planning challenges.
Urban planning in metropolitan areas is the responsibility of municipalities. In autonomous regions, specific plans have been developed to guide these areas, with general management guidelines that municipalities must follow.
Managing metropolitan areas involves managing urban settlements to avoid excessive population density and construction. It also includes managing economic activities and promoting diversification and modernization. Transportation interventions must ensure efficient connections between all the area’s cores and with national and international transportation systems. Protecting undeveloped spaces under pressure from urban sprawl is crucial, aiming to preserve farmland and create green spaces for leisure.
Reflection of Valencia’s Urban Plan
Valencia Street
Valencia, like many cities with a long history, presents a complex urban morphology. Different areas reflect distinct stages of the city’s growth: the old town, the widening, and the periphery.
The Old Town
The old town represents the urbanized part of the city from its origin to the mid-19th century. Valencia has Roman origins and is situated in the Gulf of Valencia, near the sea, on a hill within a meander of the Turia River. This location offered protection from flooding and favorable conditions for communication (along the coastal road) and economic activity (surrounded by fertile agricultural land).
During the medieval period, the old town was enclosed by walls, first during the Muslim era and later in the Christian era (14th century). The course of these walls is still visible in the streets of Guillén de Castro, Játiva, and Columbus. These walls served defensive, fiscal, and health purposes.
The old town’s layout was irregular during the Muslim period, characterized by narrow, winding streets and shapeless squares. This irregularity is particularly noticeable in the northern part, centered around the cathedral. The southern part was transformed in the 19th century with the creation of new squares and streets, such as the Calle de Valencia, following the construction of the train station in this area.
The old town’s plot is compact due to centuries of population growth within the city walls, leading to gradual densification. Initially low-rise, buildings have undergone progressive verticalization. In some areas, this has resulted in renewal processes, replacing older houses with taller, higher-quality structures.
Land use in the pre-industrial city was primarily residential, with some industrial (silk production) and maritime commerce. Currently, the southern part houses the central business district (CBD), with shops, offices, banks, and entertainment venues. The old town preserves important monuments, including the Cathedral and palaces and churches from various eras.
The Widening
From the mid-19th century, the city’s growth necessitated the expansion of the urban area. This expansion was driven by agricultural prosperity, early industrialization, and the new metro system, which consolidated Valencia’s export function. The city center became a hub for imports and redistribution.
To facilitate expansion, the 14th-century walls were demolished, and an outer ring road was created, which became a major thoroughfare. The widening primarily occurred around the south of the old town in several stages, delimited by major roads. The first stage, between the old town and the highways of Marques del Turia and Ferdinand, was inspired by Barcelona’s grid plan, featuring spacious plots and high-quality houses. The second stage extended the widening further outwards, connecting to the old city’s transit roads, which were replanned as a third outer ring road.
Industrial suburbs emerged mainly in the port area and the south, characterized by small houses built with inferior materials, leading to early deterioration. Between 1870 and 1900, urban growth led to the annexation of surrounding neighborhoods and villages, such as Rusafa, Campanar, and Grao. These areas, initially separate from the city, became integrated into the urban fabric. The urban area expanded at the expense of agricultural land. However, unlike other cities, the high price of suburban land prevented the development of low-income areas.
The Periphery
In the second half of the 20th century, industry and services experienced strong growth, accompanied by increased immigration, population growth, and urbanization. This resulted in a vast periphery with industrial zones and large slums accommodating immigrants, primarily to the west and south of the expanding city. The main areas of urban growth since the mid-20th century include:
- The south of the city, following the path of an artificial course created for the Turia River, which borders the city to the west and south. This project, initiated after the flood of 1957 and implemented in the mid-1970s, also led to the creation of a high-capacity traffic route, as the new channel is flanked by highways.
- The north of the city, along the former riverbed, which has been transformed into a green space. Facilities and roads to Madrid and Barcelona have been developed on the left bank of the river.
The port has become fully integrated into the city, handling significant freight and passenger traffic. The city has expanded into neighboring municipalities, forming a large conurbation.
Currently, Valencia’s primary functions are industrial and tertiary, with tourism playing a significant role. The city also serves as a political and administrative center, housing the parliament and other institutions of the Autonomous Community.
Agricultural land has been the main casualty of urban expansion, with the fertile fields increasingly encroached upon by construction.