Barcelona accelerates renovation of the "great gateway" in the Raval

BarcelonaBarcelona City Council is putting the accelerator on the urban transformation of the Raval neighborhood. Almost 10 months after the controversialevictionFrom the old Massana, the municipal government of Jaume Collboni announced this Monday the rehabilitation projects for the façade and cloister of the former Hospital de la Santa Cruz to serve as, along with the area surrounding the Plaça de la Gardunya, the "great gateway to the neighborhood," according to the Ciutat Vella councilor, Albert Batlle. The council will also rehabilitate the former nursery building to house the expansion of the Massana Art School and turn it into a cultural "landmark" for the city.

"We want to recover the heritage splendor of the building, highlighting the site and its surroundings," Batlle stated at a press conference this Monday. The work on the façade and cloister will cost around 2.7 million euros and is expected to begin in the spring. All of this is part of the municipal government's strategy to "reclaim the space," which includes other initiatives, such as opening the new access to the Rubió and Lluch Gardens. This aims to increase the permeability of a space that for years has become a kind of dead end where homeless people and some drug addicts find refuge.

This unblocks the work that, according to Batlle, has been pending for two years and represents progress in the most profound transformation the council wants to make of all the facilities in the area: the Library of Catalonia, the San Pablo-Santa Cruz Library, the Institute of Catalan Studies (IEC), and the Royal Academy of Pharmacy. The project also includes a complete remodeling of the space that seeks to revitalize the entire complex, as there are currently nearly 4,000 square meters of unused space. Thus, the Escola d'Art Massana will be the "first new cultural facility to be installed" and will "reinforce the neighborhood's vocation as a cultural center," according to municipal sources.

Expansion of the art school

Beginning in the first half of next year, work will begin on the façade and cloister of the former Hospital de la Santa Cruz to preserve its architectural heritage and ensure its stability. First, the current paving will be removed, the stones cleaned, and the joints and fissures secured. Second, the roof will be renovated, and specific architectural elements of the façade will be restored and replaced. Batlle explained that the City Council's goal is to complete the renovation work by the end of 2026.

Regarding the former nursery building, which has four floors and is currently unused, the City Council proposes a workshop on the ground floor; an office and a multipurpose classroom on the first floor; a classroom, an archive, and a storage area on the second floor; and two more classrooms and another archive on the third floor. "This expansion is proposed based on the center's versatile use of the spaces," the council states, clarifying that the proposal will be finalized with the winning team. The works will have a maximum budget of €1.98 million, and the bidding process for the draft project will now be published.

Awaiting the Boquería

The municipal government's planned remodeling of the Boqueria Market is also part of the transformation of this entire area of the Raval. The goal is to preserve its status as a fresh produce market and facilitate a better balance between its use by residents and its status as one of the capital's tourist attractions. This plan includes the creation of an additional access through Plaça de la Gardunya with the aim of "opening it up to the neighborhood." Work is expected to begin in 2026 and be completed in 2027.

Also part of the renovation of this entire area of the Raval is the renovation of Plaça del Doctor Fleming, underway since February, to redesign the children's playground. In this square, as will be done throughout Plaça de la Gardunya, new trees, paving, and street furniture are being installed.