Barcelona City Council has launched a new Urban Strategy for Ciutat Vella, aiming to enhance daily life and public spaces in the district. The strategy, presented at the second Ciutat Vella Pact conference, outlines a roadmap for the next decade, focusing on quality public spaces, green areas, housing rehabilitation, and improved local services.

The plan, developed by the Ciutat Vella District, the Chief Architect's Office, and City Promotion, in collaboration with Barcelona Regional, defines an action plan and key projects until 2035. Its goal is to create quality public spaces that drive new economic dynamics, promote community life and social cohesion, and improve residents' quality of life. The strategy considers urban planning alongside social and economic dynamics, proposing actions for each area.

Key Axes and Areas for Development

The strategy identifies 7 main vertical pedestrian axes that connect Ciutat Vella with the rest of Barcelona. These axes, which run from the sea to the mountains, are considered to have the most potential for territorial structuring. They include:

  • Raval-Universitat-Mar Axis (Plaça Universitat, Joaquim Costa, Rambla Raval, Avinguda Drassanes): This axis links the mountain and sea, integrating cultural, educational, and social facilities with heavily used public spaces. It aims to strengthen Raval's centrality, structure daily routes, and improve Ciutat Vella's internal and external connectivity.
  • Passeig de Gràcia-Mar Axis (Portal de l'Àngel, Carrer del Bisbe, Carrer Ciutat, Carrer Regomir): Following the historic Roman decumanus, this axis seeks to recognise and integrate its various sections, forming a cohesive network of buildings, shops, public spaces, and streets.
  • Girona-Mar Axis (Carrer Méndez Núñez, Plaça Sant Pere, Plaça Sant Agustí Vell, Carrer Tantarantana, Carrer del Rec, Plaça Pau Vila): This axis acts as a transition to the sea, connecting the Eixample district with the coast through areas like the old Baluard and the rear of Estació de França.
  • Joan de Borbó Axis: A coastal corridor linking the northern, central, and southern parts of the neighbourhood on its Llobregat side.
  • Ciutadella Axis (Passeig Lluís Companys, Passeig Picasso, Passeig de Circumval·lació): This urban hinge connects to one of Barcelona's main parks. The strategy highlights the need to improve accessibility, contact points with the urban fabric, and its relationship with surrounding neighbourhoods, enhancing Ciutadella's role as an environmental, social, and civic support space for Ciutat Vella.

Two major vertical axes, already completed or nearing completion, are also highlighted as strategic in the new land use plan:

  • La Rambla Axis: This central and symbolic axis of the district and city is being consolidated as a metropolitan public space. The new Rambla aims to regain its civic character, with culture as a guiding theme for its transformation. It seeks to improve environmental comfort and ensure daily use as a meeting, strolling, and neighbourhood life space, balancing its tourist attraction function. The ongoing urban reform will enhance its cultural identity and promote the transformation of its gastronomic and commercial offerings.
  • Via Laietana Axis: Defined as a structuring axis connecting neighbourhoods and the rest of the city, it is key for sustainable mobility, public space quality, and the relationship between Ciutat Vella's historic fabric and the Eixample. The strategy focuses on its role as an axis for institutions and businesses, origin-destination connections, and urban continuity.

Connecting Neighbourhoods and Public Spaces

Fifteen main horizontal axes (Besòs-Llobregat) have also been identified. These axes connect Ciutat Vella's neighbourhoods with each other and with the rest of the city. The strategy plans to strengthen the centrality of these axes to drive development in their surrounding areas. These include:

  • Tallers-Canuda-Sant Pere més Baix-Rec Comtal Axis
  • Ferlandina-Santa Anna-Comtal-Sant Pere Més Alt-Rec Comtal Axis
  • Riera Alta-Carme-Portaferrissa-Avinguda de la Catedral-Jardins Pou de la Figuera Axis
  • Sant Antoni Abat-Hospital-Llibreteria-Boria-Carders-Portal Nou Axis (part of the old Cardus)
  • Sant Pau-Plaça del Pi-Avinguda de la Catedral-Jardins Pou de la Figuera Axis
  • Nou de la Rambla-Plaça Reial Axis
  • Marquès de Barberà-Unió-Ferran-Princesa Axis
  • Arc del Teatre-Escudellers Axis
  • Carrer Ample-Passeig del Born-Ciutadella Axis
  • Passeig de Circumval·lació Axis
  • Moll de la Fusta-Doctor Aiguader Axis
  • Ginebra Axis
  • Andrea Dòria Axis
  • Pepe Rubianes Axis
  • Moll de Pescadors-de l'Escar-Drassana Axis

These vertical and horizontal axes create intersections that are often social hubs for their respective areas. Among these intersections, the strategy identifies 30 territorial areas as strategic points within the urban fabric with the most potential to strengthen their role as social and economic drivers.

Over the next decade, a consistent urbanisation code will be applied to these areas. Proposed actions include improving urban elements to promote community life, introducing shade and more green spaces, intervening in degraded interstitial areas, improving the connection between ground floors and the street, and launching social revitalisation programmes.

Future Projects and Coordination

The new Urban Strategy coordinates with the Climate Plan, Living Plan, Tidying Plan, Neighbourhood Plan, and District Economic Development Plan. It also adds projects based on identified needs. In total, it foresees 50 transversal actions leading to dozens of specific projects to be developed by 2035.

Upcoming projects include the reform of Carrer de Pepe Rubianes, improvements to Plaça d'Antoni Genescà i Corominas and its surroundings, and the enhancement of Plaça Poeta Boscà. Other plans involve the reform of the Old Hospital, Plaça de la Gardunya, and Jardins de Dr Fleming. The remodelling of Plaça dels Àngels, the reorganisation of Rambla del Raval and adjacent squares, the Can 60 project, and sports facilities in Raval Sud are also planned for the Raval neighbourhood. In the Gòtic area, the remodelling of Plaça del Vuit de Març and the public space at Nou de Sant Francesc, 9, are anticipated, alongside the remodelling of Plaça del Pi.