El Raval, a central neighborhood in Barcelona, has been identified as one of the city's most vulnerable areas regarding extreme heat. The neighborhood is characterized by a high density of old, poorly ventilated apartment buildings that struggle to maintain comfortable temperatures during the summer months. Urban planners and local observers note that the lack of significant tree cover and the prevalence of narrow streets create a 'heat island' effect, where temperatures remain elevated even after the sun sets.

Beyond the physical infrastructure, the socio-economic profile of the neighborhood exacerbates the risk. El Raval is home to a large migrant population and many low-income households, many of whom lack the financial resources to install or operate air conditioning systems. This combination of environmental and economic factors creates a public health challenge, as residents are often trapped in overheated living spaces with little access to cooling infrastructure or public green areas. While the city has initiated various urban renewal projects, the structural density of El Raval makes large-scale cooling interventions, such as planting extensive tree canopies, difficult to implement without significant disruption to the existing historical layout.