Barcelona Case Study

Question 1

What type of case study is barcelona?

Answer 1

REBRANDING case study

Question 2

Where is Barcelona located?

Answer 2

Mediterranean coast in northeast Spain
125km from French border

Question 3

What is Barcelona the CAPITAL of?

Answer 3

• Barcelona province
• Spanish region of Catalonia

Question 4

Population of Barcelona?
Industrial context?

Answer 4

• 1.6 mil inhabitants (greater barcelona has 3.8mil)
• soains second largest city
• 1/4 spains exports originate here (e.g. textiles, machinery, plastics)
• major port+ financial and publishing cenfre+ tourist destinations (7-8 mil visitors per year)

Question 5

HISTORICAL CONTEXT of BARCELONA

Answer 5

• 15th century- received and sents goods across world
• 19th century- INDUSTRIALISATION- Steel, cotton, ship building etc were important industries
  DENSELY POPULATED, crowded housong- contributed to POOR HEALTH of inhabitants
  Medieval walls knocked down- GROWTH of city spread out to SURROUNDING COUNTRYSIDE
  RAPID POPULATION GROWTH- 115,000- 500,000 (hit 1 mil in 1930)
  Noted as centre for culture with close links to Paris
• 1936- SPANISH CIVIL WAR, taken over by GENERAL FRANCO (1939)- suppressed CATALAN CULTURE+ architecture not well maintained so lost vibrant spirit/ place identity- acquired image of run-down, aging port city
• 1975- Franco’s death- opportunity for city to REBRAND

Question 6

REBRANDING in BARCELONA

Answer 6

• history of rebranding e.g. major events to raise INTERNATIONAL PROFILE like the 1888 Univeral Exhibition+ 1929 World Exhibition- aim to attract VISITORS from Europe, USa, Far East- show of CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE+ products from catalan industry
• AFTER FRANCO REGIME- reclaimed more DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS including ability to make decisions about MANAGEMENT of city
  Local authority began regeneration with small seven-year plan starting 1980 (140 small projects e.g. more PUBLIC SQUARES, BETTER HOUSING, TRANSPORT ROUTES, SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS

Question 7

ROLE OF SPORT in BARCELONA REGENERATION

Answer 7

• 1992 olympislc games held in barcelona- athletes village on waterfront, main stadium little inland- used to GENERATE CITY-WIDE REDEVELOPMENT+ RENOVATE RUN DOWN HARBOUR AND BEACHES
• Riverside park created+ businesses, international conference centre
• used OLYMPICS as CATALYST- ‘one city’ project to unite community and benefit inhabitants; decisions made at all levels planning+ design processes, not just top-down. - key in reassessing CATALAN IDENTITY
• Barcelona football club- development of NOU CAMP STADIUM into one of worlds greatest sporting venues- up to 98,000 capacity (FLAGSHIP LOCATION)

Question 8

ROLE OF CULTURE in BARCELONA REGENERATION

Answer 8

• tradition of artistic culture- DISTINCTIVE ARCHITECTURE e.g ANTONI GAUDI- SAGRADA FAMILIA- UNESCO world heritage sites. Tourist attractions.
• Used UNIVERSAL FORUM OF CULTURES in 2004 to promote REGENERATION+ REIMAGING
• Image as most vibrant, creative place in all of europe- ART GALLERIES, RESTAURANTS, ARCHITECTURE, PUBLIC SPACES e.g. LA RAMBA- attracts tourists to shops, restaurants, galleries etc.

Question 9

ROLE OF BUSINESSES in BARCELONA REGENERATION

Answer 9

• PLAYERS such as BUSINESS COMMUNITY+ MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT built reputation for services, innovation, the knowledge economy, entrepreneurship
• 2010- ‘STRATEGIC METROPOLITAN PLAN OF BARCELONA- VISION 2020’- encourage ECONOMIC and business GROWTH by creating image of influential and innovative region- NOT JUST TOURIST DESTINATION
• looks to develop as a lead in SUSTAINABILITY+ adapting to CLIMATE CHANGE e.g MANAGING WATER SUPPLY
• 2014- title of EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF INNIVATION (by EU)- aims to establish as leading centre for MOBILE TECHNOLOGIES+ top 10 ‘smart’ countries.