The Commons demand Collboni pay tribute to the superblocks after a 'hidden' award

BarcelonaA month ago, the European Commission announced that the superblocks in Barcelona's Eixample district were among the winning projects of the 2025 European New Bauhaus Award, which recognizes projects that combine "sustainability, inclusion, and aesthetics." Specifically, the green corridors received first prize in the "European New Bauhaus Champions" category. Despite being part of the nomination along with the architectural firms that participated in the project, the Barcelona City Council has yet to issue any statement explaining the award. Barcelona en Comú is now demanding that Mayor Jaume Collboni break this silence. The party will bring a motion to this Friday's plenary session requesting that the City Council organize a tribute to the superblocks. They propose a celebratory event in which the mayor would receive the members of the Superblocks Technical Office and the teams responsible for the designs and construction management: Cierto Estudio, B67 Arquitectos, Esteyco, Estudio Martí Franch, Nablabcn Studio, Fabric, GC Arquitectos, Agence Ter, TYLin, Ana Coello, Landlab, TY Clara Solà-Morales Studio, Metronom Arquitectura, and 08014 Arquitectura. Furthermore, the request also asks Collboni to develop green corridors throughout the city.

The demand for superblocks and green corridors has been a point of contention between the Comuns and the PSC since the beginning of the term. Despite being part of Ada Colau's government, which promoted this urban transformation, the Socialists have distanced themselves from it since taking office. Jaume Collboni's focus has been on interior block green spaces at the expense of extending the green corridors. Furthermore, his administration has promoted a plan to address aspects of the Eixample's green spaces, such as promenade maintenance, flowerbed improvements, signage, speed control, and loading and unloading management.

The judicial labyrinth

A source of controversy since the project's initial drafts, the superblocks have also accumulated their own legal ordeal. In March, the High Court of Justice of Catalonia (TSJC) ruled—with one dissenting opinion—that modifying the Metropolitan General Plan was necessary to implement a green corridor like the one along Consell de Cent. This was the TSJC's first stance after several lower courts had issued rulings both for and against how the superblock had been implemented. The legal battle has also been accompanied by intense academic and public debate. University studies have measured the electoral impact of the green corridors, the approval level citizens of these streets – 66.6% –, its impact on therising rents in the area and also how they have contributed to reducing accidents in the area, with a decrease in accidents of 87.7%.