Barcelona

• 1/4 of Spain’s exports originate from Barcelona.
• 125km from the french border.
• 1.6 million residents, with Greater Barcelona having 3.8 million.
• Mainly manufactures textiles, precision instruments, machinery, railway equipment, paper, glass and plastics.
• receives 7 to 8 million visitors a year.
• Role of sport

  Held Olympic Games in 1992; games were used for city wide redevelopment and and renovation of harbour and beaches; sparked development of international conference centre.

  Barcelona Football Club‘s Nou Camp Stadium, which can host 98,000, was a flagship location for the city.
• Role of culture

  Antoni Gaudi designed the cathedral of Sagrada Familia, a UNESCO site.

  Art galleries, museums, restaurants, cafes, architecture and public spaces create a creative branding for the city.

  Refurbishment of public spaces and galleries.
• Role of Business

  In November 2010 the municipal authority presented ‘Strategic Metropolitan Plan of Barcelona Vision 2020;

  It‘s key aim was to position the city as ‘one of the most attractive and influential European regions for innovative global talent and as the best setting for economic and business growth’;

  In 2014 the city was given the title of ‘European Capital of Innovation’ by the EU.
• After the Franco regime, Barcelona gradually reclaimed more democratic rights, such as making decisions about the management of the city.
• Local authority began regeneration with a seven year plan starting in 1980; focused on 140 small projects providing more piazzas and better schools, housing, transport routes and hospitals.
• the city was taken by Nationalists in 1939 during the Civil War, and local Catalan culture was suppressed.
• looks to develop a lead in sustainability and adapting to climate change in areas such as managing water supply.
• The Raval district in Barcelona is in the inner city, and was one of the most densely populated urban areas in the world up until recently.
• the textile industry, brick making, abattoirs and the tanning industry were based in the Raval.
• The Raval had a reputation for illicit activities such as organised crime, prostitution and drug dealing.
• Large immigrant community contained in Barrio Chino, as immigrant would settle after arriving in the local port in southern Raval.
• North Raval rebranding

  Flagship buildings such as the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Contemporary Cultural Centre;

  Private university has been constructed and some streets house art galleries and restaurants;

  much of the change is associated with gentrification.
• South Raval rebranding

  Overcrowded residential areas and derelict factories;

  In 1995 in Raval Rambla, 1700 residential and commercial properties were demolished to clear space for a large pedestrianised space;

  New housing has been constructed for some of the residents displaced by the scheme;

  student accommodation occupies refurbished buildings and a modern pneumatic refuse collection service has been introduced;

  the EU is funding 80% of the €5 million cost of the scheme.
• Barceló Raval Hotel


  Built in 2008;

  avant garde design;

  represents a significant financial commitment to the area’s rebranding;

  private investment;

  flagship building.
• The Casa Camper Hotel

  Refurbished an old stone building;

  claims it’s ’old age shines on the outside, youthful good looks blush within’.
• Wealthy tourists makes poorer residents feel excluded from many of the new facilities.
• property speculation has raised prices and reduced supply of housing, leading to a shortage of affordable housing.
• Protest graffiti is common on the properties where such conflict is occurring.