Barcelona is currently undergoing several major urban transformation projects, stretching from the Llobregat to the Besòs areas, all with a target completion date of 2035. These developments, including schemes at La Sagrera, the Montjuïc Olympic Ring, the Marina del Prat Vermell neighbourhood, and 22@Nord, are now featured in a new exhibition at the Casa de l’Arquitectura in Barcelona, which opened on 7 May.
These areas are changing in distinct ways, involving the construction of new housing, public transport infrastructure, and the creation of green spaces. According to Laia Bonet, Deputy Mayor for Urban Planning, all projects share a common goal: to make Barcelona a more liveable city with a better quality of life. Bonet stated, "The exhibition speaks about how we want to live in Barcelona in the coming years."
Exploring Barcelona's Future
The exhibition, titled "Barcelona 2035. A city to live in", is housed in a room at the recently opened architecture headquarters, formerly the Gustavo Gili Publishing House. It uses construction materials and supports, such as a large central wooden table, trestles, and a metal construction fence with windows, to emulate the concept of transformation. These windows display virtual recreations of the ongoing city projects. The exhibition is designed for visitors to follow a counter-clockwise route, with the Besòs area at one end of the table and the Llobregat at the other, mirroring Barcelona's actual geography.
Beyond La Sagrera and Montjuïc, the exhibition also details plans for the Tres Xemeneies (Three Chimneys) in Sant Adrià, the BioClúster in L'Hospitalet, the Ciutadella del Coneixement (Citadel of Knowledge), and the new Hospital Clínic at Porta Diagonal. Elena Amat, the exhibition's curator, noted that it is a "living exhibition" and will be updated as new projects advance.
Institutional Responsibility and Growth
Bonet spoke of the "institutional responsibility" in restarting projects like La Sagrera, which had been stalled for many years. She explained, "These are large projects that do not start or end in one term; they require continuity and persistence." Bonet also reiterated that Barcelona has limited space for growth, identifying only three specific areas: the Marina del Prat Vermell neighbourhood, La Sagrera, and 22@Nord. She added that Barcelona's future extends beyond these three points and "depends on what we do in the already built city."
This means focusing on "how we make it more liveable, how we gain more green spaces, facilities, and quality of life," Bonet said. The exhibition is free to visit until 13 December. It is displayed alongside a large model of Barcelona and another exhibition on the city's diversity, all part of Barcelona's designation as World Capital of Architecture.
