PART III PROJECTS
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URBAN INNOVATION NODES 9.7 GARRAF INNOVATION HUB
9.7 GARRAF INNOVATION HUB
Landscape vocations. Source: AA London - Eca Castro Studio on Sitges
The project for the Garraf innovation hub has been initiated by the Fundacion Metropoli in cooperation w ith t he c ity o f Si tges a nd t he international exchange project between Catalonia and Ca lifornia, a p rogramme which h as b een developed by the municipality with the Fundacion Metropoli. It consists of a dialogue between politicians and experts from these two regions who cooperate on concrete projects, comparing the two regions and learning from them.They focused on the transformation of traditional agriculture and tourism areas into advanced economic activities with a h igh creative content. This project forms part of the conceptual f ramework of the Fundacion Me tropoli which i t uses t o e xplore urban eco-systems of innovation.
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The design of the Innovation Park of Garraf is based on the study of the metropolitan area of Barcelona as an urban ecosystem of innovation. This consists of a new combination and exploitation of existing components of excellence. In this particular instance, it means the rediscovery of Mediterranean activities which have marked the landscapes of Catalonia, together with new components s uch a s n ew i nfrastructures, t he expanded international airport, the motorways and the railway network.The greatest asset is the quality of life which municipalities like Sitges can offer through its tourist infrastructure which relies on its cultural and artistic traditions. The concept of the Garraf Innovation Park emanates from these reflections, as well as the physical,