I visited the Olympic Village beachfront multiple times a day on different days during the week and weekend. In my observations I noticed that the space was always busy with people engaging in multiple activities. Some of these activities, such as walking, jogging, and biking could be observed at all times, but others differed depending on the time of day. For instance, during the early weekday morning, the beach was quite empty except for a small group playing beach volleyball. There was no one in the water and the bars on the beach were closed. At that time, the users were mostly elderly residents who were strolling in small groups or sitting on the benches.

One morning I observed a group of about 50 people, also elderly, taking a yoga class in the workout area by the beach. This was a perfect example of an element of “randomness” that Oriol Bohigas envisioned in his “ideal” city. For Bohigas, one of the most important aspects of the city is the element of randomness: the capacity to find something without searching for it. Take the yoga class – it was not something that was particularly intentional in the design of the workout area, but when someone decided to offer yoga in that space, many others (whether residents or passerby) joined in. This demonstrates that it is up to the users to use the public space for social activities they deem desirable.

Around noon the beach started to get more populated – there were numerous spontaneous volleyball games and some people began to swim. As street vendors arrived and set up their blankets with merchandise on the ramp leading to the beach, people were coming by, interacting, and some even purchased a thing or two. Typically, the vendors sell sunglasses or beach blankets; however, they are not regulated sales and they can be asked to leave by the police at any given time. The beach became even more alive as music began to play from the “chiringuitos,” or beach bars, and beach chairs and umbrellas were set up. These places are great as they offer shade and misters to escape the sun, but they now “become” private spaces in that one has to consume something to use them. There is not much action in the Olympic Park around noon during weekdays as children are still in school, but there are some people resting in shaded areas around the playgrounds. This changed during the weekend as there were more children present in the playgrounds.

In the evenings, when the temperatures go down, the beach is definitely the busiest although I suspect it might be different during the winter months. In mid-May, however, the space is crowded with people of all ages and everyone finds something to do in this great outdoor space. Children run around the playgrounds, youth sit pretty much anywhere they find space (on the grass, benches, walls around the boardwalk, sand on the beach, or rocks that break the waves) and benches on the waterfront are filled with people talking, eating ice cream, or just enjoying the view. Some people come out to do exercise: they walk, run, ride bicycles or work out. Others use randomly placed chairs to sit down and read books. The restaurants open up and hosts come out to the beach walk with menus, inviting or looking for potential customers. Near the concrete blocs or wave breakers, people attempt to fish despite the sign prohibiting fishing in that area. The beaches in the Olympic Village are smoke-free so teenagers also use these rocks to sit close to the waves and smoke. In a sense, the rocks have become a public space for activities that are otherwise prohibited (they are also the most decorated with graffiti).

At night, the view of the waterfront is spectacular as restaurants are full of people, lights and music. The beach itself also becomes a hangout spot for the youth who sit in groups listening to music and socializing. Farther along the beach, the nightclubs and casinos start to open up for a well-dressed and more affluent clientele. I noticed that police presence increased at night, probably due to the fact that this area has become the mecca for nightlife in Barcelona.

The Olympic Village waterfront provides an array of opportunities for people to use the space for different necessary, optional and social activities. From the youngest ones playing in the playgrounds, to youth hanging out or exercising, to the elderly strolling or participating in a yoga class. There are many elements of “randomness” in how people use the space, such as the yoga classes, pop-up volleyball games, beach football, passing of soccer ball on the pedestrian Mall de Maestral along the marina, or teens walking and/or playing with their dogs. All these activities contribute to creating a public space that is truly shared and public, utilized by people of all ages and means.