Remodelling underway at 10 Barcelona markets

posted 16/12/2011

10 of Barcelona's markets are currently undergoing remodelling, while a further 19 of the network's markets have already been refurbished.

Barcelona's markets are in full swing for modernisation under a successful model based on an agreement between the public and private sectors. 10 out of a network of 40 markets spread across the city are currently being remodelled, while refurbishment has already been completed on a further 19.

The 10 markets currently being remodelled are: the Sant Antoni, the Sants, the Ninot, the Bon Pastor, the Vall d'Hebron, the Guinardó, the Encants-Fira de Bellcaire, the Guineueta, the Provençals and the Boqueria.

Of these, special mention should be made of the Mercat dels Encants BCN-Fira de Bellcaire. Work is now at the stage the various floors are being built for the new amenity, which will offer room for services (a car park), logistics (warehouses, waste, loading and unloading) and shops (both the current and the newly incorporated) in a new open space covered by a large roof. A permanent shopping circuit is being set up for 280 shops and to open in 2013.

Another example is the redevelopment of the Sant Antoni Market, the largest in the city and the most complex of the projects being carried out. It includes four underground floors and several news spaces for the city.

Elsewhere in the city, right in its centre, at the Mercat de la Boqueria, work continues on the remodelling of the Plaça de la Gardunya. This is one of the most important projects going on in the Ciutat Vella district: the square will see a large public space freed up, and underground floor will be built for the market's logistical activities (it will house all of the loading, unloading and waste collection operations). The façade overlooking the square is also set to be commercially redeveloped.

An action model

The City Council, through the Barcelona Municipal Institute of Markets (IMMB), promotes the modernisation and remodelling of Barcelona's markets with a view to adapting their commercial offering and infrastructure to citizens' demands. This process has given rise to the so-called "Barcelona model for remodelling", which puts into practice the objective of promoting "local trade".

The process for improving the city's markets depends on the consensus and active participation of the traders at each market. An analysis of the development of trade serves to consider how to best adapt the markets in order to make them commercially competitive and meet citizens' demands.

The foundations of the Barcelona model for remodelling are:

• the restoration of the building's architectural value and artistic features.
• the redefinition of the commercial mix, making it commercially sustainable and introducing new operators to enhance markets' offerings.
• the shifting of the market's logistical services underground and creation of car parks and unloading docks wherever possible.
• selective waste collection and environmental responsibility.
• the promotion of markets through communication and commercial promotion campaigns and the publication of their own media materials.