Programme

A programme of 5 architectural visits of Barcelona in relation to the E19 theme.
— 8h40: Meeting for departure of the buses at ETSAB entrance

Visit 1: Colònia Güell

Founder: Eusebi Güell

Colònia Güell was established in the late 19th century as a self-sufficient community linked to the textile factory founded by Eusebi Güell. Worker housing, amenities, and green spaces were organized around the factory, creating a unified industrial and social complex. Gaudí built the church, an architectural laboratory where he experimented with inclined columns and structural solutions that would later be applied to the Sagrada Família.

Visit 2: Fabra & Coats industrial complex regeneration

Architect: Francesc Bacardit, Manuel Ruisánchez — 8,000 m², 2012

The transformation of the warehouse at the Fabra & Coats industrial complex in Barcelona is part of the redevelopment process for this 19th and 20th century textile complex, aiming to integrate it into the "BCN Creative Factories" network. The project will provide the Sant Andreu neighbourhood with over 28,000 m² of facilities and, for the first time in an industrial heritage conversion, include social housing.

Visit 3: Glòries square and 22@ district — modern architecture alongside old factories

Designed by Cerdà as part of his urban plan, this circular square lies at the intersection of Barcelona's three main thoroughfares. Since 2013, the square has been undergoing redevelopment aimed at transforming it into a 140,000 m² urban park and redesigning the surrounding area. The nearby 22@ district is the epicenter of innovation in Barcelona, where ultra-modern buildings stand alongside old factories converted into cultural and creative hubs.

Visit 4: Rec Comtal — a channel fragment becoming a place of nature inside the city

The Rec Comtal was an open canal built during the time of Count Miró I in the mid-10th century. It served as a vital artery for Barcelona, used for irrigation, powering mills, and later on, supplying the textile industry. Today, only one section remains uncovered, having become a space defined by nature and water (home to fish, frogs, ducks, and swans). Part of the site's redevelopment is an Europan project.

Visit 5: Sant Adrià de Besòs and Sant Roc — reconnection to the sea

These are two neighbouring districts located northeast of Barcelona that share a joint urban transformation plan: "stitching boundaries, weaving community". Sant Adrià de Besòs is restoring its historic connection to the sea by relocating a sewage collector to create a large natural area facing the waterfront. In Sant Roc, the former fire station is being transformed into a major metropolitan Arts and Crafts center.