70% of the area of Barcelona is urbanised (streets, buildings, paved squares, etc) with just 30% not urbanised. The urbanised area clearly predominates over green areas (parks and gardens, wasteland and farmland). The urban sprawl continues eastwards (Sant Adrià de Besòs, Santa Feral Pigeona de Gramenet and Badalona) and westwards (L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, Cornellà del Llobregat, Esplugues de Llobregat, Sant Just Desvern, Sant Feliu de Llobregat and Sant Joan Despí) long past the strict limits of the city. To the north, however, the maquis and forests of Serra de Collserola and the hills of El Putxet, Parc Güell, El Carmel, La Rovira, La Peira along with the big urban parks, give the city its "quota" of green. To the south, the sea forms a blue barrier, reminding Barcelona of the limits to its growth in that direction.
Tall buildings in Carrer Tarragona
One of the characteristic traits of a city like Barcelona is its highly developed vertical structure. The buildings with all their walls, roofs, terraces, balconies and windows reproduce similar conditions to the rocky habitats of the natural world.
Another important characteristic is the abundance of elements created by humans with the aid of technology: houses, blocks of flats, antennas, ports, churches, bridges, monuments, tarmacked roads, green squares, paved squares, football stadiums, park benches, litter bins, etc. This huge mass of artificial elements gives form to the city and makes it distinct to any other.
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