The city of Barcelona has taken a significant step towards the development of a new public space in Glòries, following the signing of a protocol between the City Council and the Free Zone Consortium. This agreement, presented by Mayor Jaume Collboni and Pere Navarro, special state delegate, establishes the foundations for the construction of a tower that will include affordable housing, offices, and community facilities.
Project Details
The new building will be erected on a plot of over 5,600 m², located at number 254 Avenida Diagonal. The architectural proposal contemplates a minimum total of 35,000 m² built, distributed into 10,000 m² designated for affordable housing, 20,000 m² for administrative uses, and 5,000 m² for community facilities such as a library, an auditorium, and a sports centre.
Pere Navarro highlighted that this project is the result of effective collaboration between the City Council and the Consortium: “This project becomes a reality because we are aligned to do useful things for Barcelona,” he stated during the presentation.
The Consortium will take on not only the promotion and execution of the project but also its initial financing. The architectural design will be selected through an international competition that will be launched this autumn. It is expected that the drafting of the project will begin throughout 2027, with construction starting between late 2028 and early 2029.
As this development progresses, Collboni emphasised his commitment to local needs: “We are unblocking a long-awaited project to recover its initial vocation of public service,” referring to how this new infrastructure will respond to the demands of Clot and Camp de l’Arpa.
Aside from the new building in Glòries, the mayor announced other important projects such as a residence for the elderly in the Clot neighbourhood and the rehabilitation of the cultural centre La Farinera, with a planned investment of 1 million euros. These initiatives aim to increase the public housing supply and improve the services available to citizens.
Direct quote: “We deeply believe that useful urbanism can positively affect people's lives,” said Pere Navarro about the objectives behind the project.
The planned construction not only seeks to meet housing needs but also to consolidate Glòries as one of the most relevant urban hubs within the metropolitan area of Barcelona. With these coordinated actions between different public entities, it is expected to generate economic opportunities while improving urban quality of life.
As Barcelona continues to face challenges related to population and urban growth, projects like this are essential to ensure balanced and inclusive development. Collaboration between public institutions is key to transforming urban spaces into functional areas serving citizens.
You may also like
