The Ciutat Vella district of Barcelona underwent major regeneration from the 1970s-2000s to address urban decay and social issues. [1] Key aspects of the regeneration included developing cultural and university facilities, restoring historic buildings, creating new public spaces, renovating infrastructure, and increasing housing and economic activity through restoration initiatives and strategic plans. [2] Ongoing challenges include preventing gentrification, achieving social cohesion, and promoting diversity and community participation in planning. [3] Barcelona continues working towards sustainability and quality of life through approaches like superblocks that improve public space, mobility, and urban biodiversity.

1. The experience of Ciutat Vella
October, 5, 2015
The regenerated historic centre

2. Surface
km2
Population
Inhabitants
Density
inh/km2
Spain 506.030,00 47.265.321 93,4
Catalonia 32.106,50 7.570.908 235,8
Metropolitan
Area
633,00 3.239.337 5.117
Barcelona 101,00 1.620.943 16.049
Ciutat Vella 4,49 104.442 23.261
Some demographic data (2012)

3. Administrative organisation of Barcelona
10 Districts

4. The District
01
44

6. The transformation process
02
66

7. Urban problems
• Very dense urban landscape
• Lack of planning; no improvements
• Deficient public facilities
• Buildings without habitability standards
Social issues
•Decrease in population
•Marginalisation, unemployment, drugs
•Aged, unstable population
1975-1980
Historic centre in decay

8. - 2% of buildings in danger of
collapse
- 7,000 flats without bathroom
- 70% of buildings constructed
before 1900
- Inadequate sanitation system
- Decreased commercial activity
- Just 0.2 m2
green space per
inhabitant
1975-1980
Historic centre in decay

9. 1979
Restoration of Democracy in
Town Halls in Spain
Barcelona Town Hall commits
itself to the recovery of the old
quarter.
Double objective:
- Recover Ciutat Vella as
centre of Barcelona
- Keep residential character and
close-knit communities of
quarters
1986
Barcelona chosen as host of 1992 Olympic Games

10. 1980-85
Interior Reform Plans (PERIs)
Plans developed with
agreement and consensus
from population (PERI)
Objectives:
• Provide Ciutat Vella with
public areas (green areas)
• Add quarter and town
facilities.
• Build accommodation for
relocating those affected.
• Renew infrastructure
of historic centre (gas,
electric, water, etc.)
PERIs

11. 1986
Creation of Integrated Area of Rehabilitation
Plan
IAR

12. Managing Commission of IAR
Consultation organ made up of
representatives from:
• Barcelona Town Hall
• Government of Catalonia
• Ministry of Development
• Neighbourhood associations
• Chamber of Commerce

13. Management of the programme
Mixed economy companies:
1988-2002:
Promoció de Ciutat Vella SA
2001- 2014
Foment de Ciutat Vella SA
Municipal part:
- Land use management
- Planning and projects. Promoting private restoration
- Economic and social promotion
Public/private part

14. WHERE DO WE BEGIN?
•Social and economical situation
•Urban tissue situation
•Existing infrastructures and facilities

15. THE INSTRUMENTS FOR TRANSFORMATION ??
•Strong city political will to lead the process
•A flexible managing structure
•Engagement of other public administrations
• Consensus: neighbourhood groups, institutions…
•An adequate budget
•A challenging project: transversal/ multidisciplinary
view
•Participation of residents

16. AND THEN, WHAT SHALL WE NEED?
•Residential buildings well preserved
•Neighborhood and city facilities
•Better public spaces and mobility
•Historic and artistic patrimonial preservation
•Attraction and promotion of sustainable
commercial and economic activities

17. Priority actions
03
1717

18. Cultural/strategic facilities

19. MACBA
Museum of Contemporary Art
of Barcelona
www.macba.cat

20. rcelona Centre of Contemporary Culture (CCCBrcelona Centre of Contemporary Culture (CCCB)
w.cccb.org

21. La Seca
New scenic and visual arts centre
www.laseca.cat
Enlargement of
Picasso Museum
http://www.museupicasso.bcn.cat/

22. University and library facilities

23. Faculty of Geography and History
University of Barcelona
www.ub.edu
• University buildings in the town centre..

24. • A library in every district..
Recovery of historic buildings for public use.
Sant Pau-RavalFraternitat-Barceloneta Andreu Nin- Gòtic

25. Principal poles of economic activity

27. Restoration of
the 3 municipal
markets
in the
Ciutat Vella
Santa Caterina Market
Municipal markets

28. Port of Barcelona
• 1992: creation of Barcelona Port Authority
• 1995: Size Port Vell (Old Port) (55.6 ha)
• 1997: Management by company:
Port 2000
• Culture, leisure, tourist
and business centre

29. - Ciutat Vella concentrates a third part of the cultural surface
of the city.
- Hotel trade and restoration supposes the 30% its productive space.
- Barcelona received, the 2012, more than 7.5 million visitors.
and 16 million nights of lodging. 39% in Ciutat Vella.
-From 480 hotels in Barcelona, 187 are in Ciutat Vella.
- Tourist pressure within the district example: an average of
78 million people per year walk the Rambla.
- Convivial problems with the neighbors of the tourist apartments
in the district.
Tourism and hotels

30. Strategic Tourism Plan BCN 2015
Specific group for Ciutat Vella in order to manage
the effects of tourism in:
- public spaces
- security
- mobility

31. Hotels

32. Recuperation of buildings
for public use
Casa dels Entremesos
Cultural Centre
Civic Centre
Pati Llimona

33. Sports Centre
Ciutadella
Kindergarten
Sports Centre
Can Ricart

34. Creation of new public spaces

35. Rambla del Raval

37. Passeig Allada -Vermell

38. Street and infrastructure renovation

39. New infrastructure
2 pneumatic solid waste collection
centres
2,420 metres of pneumatic waste
collection system in service
Plan 2005-2012:
6,715 metres of new pipes Collection centre

40. 270 renovated streets
New traffic plans
Pedestrian priority
Modernisation of service
networks:
• electricity
• water
• gas
• telephone
• cable
• street lighting
• drains
Plaça Castella

41. Construction of public housing
* 500 buildings affected (demolished)
* 4,500 flats (20% unoccupied)
* More than 3,000 new public housing flats
* 600 through restoration

42. Public housing buildings in Ciutat VellaPublic housing buildings in Ciutat Vella

43. Private restoration.
1988 – 2010
Public investment in support
schemes for restoration work:
more than €40 million
Total cost of private
restoration work:
€215 million
For every euro of public money
spent on restoration,
€5.30 has been generated
from private investment

44. more than 3,109 buildings
more than 42,565 flats
and shops
affecting around 55%
of private housing
in Ciutat Vella

45. Restoration of private housing
in Ciutat Vella

46. 25 years program “Barcelona posa’t guapa”
Public grants program for rehabilitation of buildings

47. Architectonic patrimonial catalogue
http://w10.bcn.es/APPS/cat_patri/home.do

48. Protection of archeological sites
Collaboration wit Historic Museum

50. Neighborhoods plans
-Transversal and integral vision of the territory.
-50% of contributions coming from autonomous
government.
-Citizens participation in projects definition and execution.
-Coordination between public administration working in the
territory.

52. Plan for Sant Pere and Santa Caterina quarters
Lengthening
Avinguda
Cambó

53. Development of a new
public meeting and coming
together space

54. Plan for the Barceloneta quarter
http://www.barcelonetapladebarris.cat/

55. Plan for South Raval
http://www.ravalsudpladebarris.cat/

57. http://ravalcultural.bcn.cat/#

58. CHALLENGES
•To avoid « gentrification »
•To avoid « ghettos »
•Achieve participation of local communities
in decision-making processes.
•New approaches to diversity in planning

59. Hàbitat Urbà
TOWARDS
BARCELONA 5.0

61. From 22@ to Barcelona@From 22@ to Barcelona@
The challenge is toThe challenge is to
combine the BIG VISIONcombine the BIG VISION ...

62. Hàbitat Urbà
6262
… with urban acupunctures human scale that promotes
social project in which Barcelona is rooted

65. http://elborncentrecultural.bcn.cat/ca

69. Microurbanizations + Voids Plan (Microurbanizations + Voids Plan (civic engagement)

70. ATENEU DE LES CORTS- PUBLIC DIGITAL
PRINTING CENTER

71. 7171
Deploying an urban development pattern of economic progress, social cohesion
and sustainability
The superblocks

72. Superblocks are urban areas with over concepts
and demographic and territorial objectives are
based on sustainable mobility, the revitalization of
public spaces, promoting biodiversity and urban
green spaces, social cohesion, energy self-
sufficiency and involvement.
New human speed districts implemented in the next
four years in five areas.

73. 7373
 Improve the quality of life with low carbon economy.
Self-sufficient efficiency, intensive use of public space, urban
biodiversity and green, streamlining traffic areas
Urban innovation - social innovation - Sustainable Innovation
KPIs reproducible very durable

74. 7474
Towards a zero emission
mobility
Revitalize public space
Promote biodiversity and green
urban
Improve the complexity of social
cohesion in urban areas
Self-sufficient urban metabolism
Integration of governance
processesVers une mobilité zéro
émission
A NEW
PARADIGM OF
CITIES

75. 7575
More info:
Carme Gual: cgualv@bcn.cat