Orange polyurethane insulation foam on the exposed firewall - Barcelona, Spain

This striking orange surface is a polyurethane foam insulation that was applied to a firewall (called a medianera) left exposed after the demolition of a neighboring building.

When a building is demolished, the interior wall of the house next to it – which was not originally intended to be exposed to external influences – is left exposed to the weather.

The purpose of the insulation:

Waterproofing: Prevents water from seeping in and erosion of the wall.

Thermal insulation: Protects the building from extreme temperatures.

Temporary solution: Usually only left there until a new building is built on the vacant lot, so aesthetics are not an issue.

This phenomenon is extremely common in cities in Spain, especially in Barcelona. The specific location in the photo is around Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes in Barcelona, ​​where many of these “scarred” firewalls can be seen due to the long-running urban regeneration projects. The lower part of the wall is often covered in graffiti, as empty lots are popular locations for street art.