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Barcelona has set itself a new landmark venture: to become a fully integrated player in the new technological revolution, to meet the challenge of the knowledge-based economy head on. Poblenou, the main industrial centre of 19th century Spain, stands to become one of the main economic and technological platforms of both Barcelona and Catalonia.

The real Barcelona, as defined by the labour market with nigh on two million jobs, and a total population of 4.3 million inhabitants, is the sixth largest metropolitan region of Europe in demographic terms, and exports 22.5% of the Spanish total with respect to both industrial and non-industrial goods. The network of towns led by Barcelona is rapidly changing the way it looks at production: today virtually two thirds of exports are high or top end mid-tech goods. Its future competitive edge hinges on its ability to integrate the new information and communication technologies and intensify third sector/industrial knowledge dense activities. The municipality of Barcelona acts as the hub of a polynucleate metropolitan region and is the capital of Catalonia, an eminently urban land. To preserve its leading role, both in economic terms and in terms of employment, it has to focus more on knowledge dense activities, likewise areas dense in employment.

The traditional economic/urban planning strategy of Barcelona has always been based on the main source of economic activity being the manufacturing sector, and thus preserving the manufacturing industry was considered essential when zoning the central municipality of the metropolis. The transition from an industrial manufacturing model to one better suited to the knowledge based economy of today has required an in-depth review of the urban planning classification of the old industrial areas of Poblenou - defined as 22a areas in the Metropolitan Master Plan of 1976. Adaptation of the regulatory framework resulted in the Amended Metropolitan Master Plan for the refurbishment of the industrial areas of Poblenou (MPGM), which was passed on July 27, 2000. The plan sets forth a series of conditions aimed at attracting and stimulating new generation economic activities. Such activities require centrality, good infrastructure and a quality urban environment. The MPGM changes the face of the urban planning classification of industrial areas, replacing the old 22a classification with the new 22@ classification; it regulates the use and intensity of building; establishes incentives both for transformation and to attract @ activities - knowledge dense activities; it establishes the new facility classification 7@ which permits the construction of knowledge-based infrastructure; it defines new urban planning standards and provides for the full reurbanisation of the sector - Special Infrastructure Plan; it establishes the duties of the landowners and determines the forms and mechanisms of planning- Special Plans - required to enable transformation.

In all, through the course of execution- 15-20 years - the project will permit the construction of some 3.200.000m² of new and refurbished roof space for productive use, and over between 3.500 and 4.000 new homes under the social housing regime and will provide approximately 220.000m² of land for new public facilities and green spaces, as well as creating over between 100.000 and 130.000 new jobs in the area.

source: http://www.bcn.es/22@bcn/engl/presentacion/index.html

Plans and Project

Amended Metropolitan Master Plan (MMPG) (22@ Plan)

The complexity of the transformation in question, and the desire to develop instruments which adapt to the different existing realities and end needs, led to the definition of a flexible derived planning system, embodied in the form of different types of special plans:

· The transformation of specific areas, led directly by the City Council. Six areas of transformation to be developed by public initiative are defined. In all they represent 43% of the land area to be transformed. They are especially sensitive areas of Poblenou which, with public planning and management, are to act as the driving force for the transformation of the district, as urban condensers and as identifiable emerging areas which will help to interpret the nature of this particular part of town. They will help us to obtain strategically situated large green spaces and facilities which, alongside those already in existence, will make up a comprehensive, complex system across the whole territory. The areas are to be developed progressively, adapting to what is already in place and thus avoiding the disruption of current use.

· Plans covering a minimum of 1 city block: these cover the transformation of undefined areas and may be developed by private or public initiative.

· Other transformation work: Likewise other extraordinary transformation work may be carried out by private initiative, under Special Plans, with respect to:

- Consolidated industrial buildings - Industrial buildings of interest - Plots of over 2,000m² - Consolidated housing fronts

Special Infrastructure Plan (PEI)

The extremely rigid nature of the old regulations, alongside the feeling that the land was awaiting reclassification, caused the urban fabric of Poblenou to become somewhat “sclerotic”. Moreover, the sector itself was both wanting in the drive and functional capacity needed to satisfy the demand for space classified for new generation economic activities. The state of stagnation in turn led to a clear deficit of internal infrastructure in the sector, especially with respect to urban utilities (power, telecoms, public transport,…), a radical barrier to achieving the desired transformation. Solving this problem, incompatible with the purpose and functions assigned to the sector by the Amended Metropolitan Master Plan, thus became key to the success of the whole process of transformation. Thus the Amended Metropolitan Master Plan provides for the installation of the new infrastructure needed to meet the urban, social and business needs of today. New urban standards were likewise established (paving, gardens, power supply, sewage and drainage systems, gas, refuse network and permanent collection facilities, fibre optic network, drinking water supply, surface water irrigation systems, fire hydrants and climate control, telephone and telecoms networks, local service galleries or publicly owned networks of tunnels, waste disposal services, urban furnishing, street lighting and signing), reaching well beyond the traditional requirements for wheeled access, water, electricity and sewage. The Amended Metropolitan Master Plan provides for the development of a Special Infrastructure Plan to determine the basic elements and specifications for the different infrastructure systems and service networks, define and programme the work over the sector as a whole and determine the charges for urban development.

The Special Infrastructure Plan (PEI) definitively passed on October 27, 2000, provides for the full reurbanisation of the sector (35kms. of streets), determines the needs with respect to utilities, and offers an integral solution on the basis of the following criteria:

· Sustainability. When choosing the solutions for the different systems the PEI closely considered such objectives as the control and reduction of noise pollution, preferential use of renewable energy sources, fostering the use of public transport and energy saving.

· The rendering of services under a regime of free competition. At a time in which the main public services (telecoms, power ....) are being opened up to competition, the need to define a new infrastructure framework led the PEI to seek the best solutions by which to foster said process.

· The redefinition of both public spaces and private community areas as places in which infrastructure may be sited: Contrary to the system traditionally employed for the distribution of utilities, the PEI establishes a hierarchy of spaces over which it lays the new networks. The general principle followed by the PEI is that only the main transport networks should run through public space, while the distribution networks, facilities and corresponding equipment (transformer stations, nodes, etc.) should all be sited in private space. The attitude is similar with respect to loading and unloading and refuse collection bays, all of which are sited within the blocks. The PEI provides for a mixed service gallery and tunnel system. The service galleries, which run perpendicular to the street, connect the blocks together and provide space for maintenance and other work. Inside each block provision is likewise made for a technical room to house diverse equipment, internal service distribution rings for the utilities and the technical facilities which provide vertical access to the upper floors. The rooftop is to be provided with distribution rings and technical facilities for the systems that need to be placed at a height such as radio, mobile telephony and other diverse aerials.

Source:http://www.bcn.es/22@bcn/engl/planesyproyectos/index.html

http://www.bcn.es/22@bcn/engl/presentacion/proyecto_22/index.html

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