Smiljan Radić . Miquel Mariné . Beatriz Borque . César Rueda
Three major architectural projects will transform Montjuïc venue.
The future Montjuïc venue is beginning to take shape with the proposals from the winning teams of the architectural competition. Three unique monumental palaces—sustainable, avant-garde, and blending modernity with historical surroundings—will define the first phase of the renovation of this iconic city landmark. The goal is to transform it into a cutting-edge urban exhibition center for the 21st century.
This was one of the key topics discussed at this morning’s meeting of the Centenary Commission, made up of Barcelona City Council, the Government of Catalonia and Fira de Barcelona, which continues to make progress in the design of the axes of the programme of commemorative activities and the configuration of the management bodies that will carry it out.
Thus, this morning The Commission was presented with the winning architectural projects responsible for designing designing the first three major remodelling actions of the Montjuïc venue, following the decision of the jury made up of five renowned experts and chaired by the architect Josep Lluís Mateo. Key criteria included optimizing the trade fair facilities to modernize them, making them more flexible and versatile, under parameters of efficiency, digitalisation and sustainability.
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Smiljan Radić
New Multifunctional Palace
The winner of the first lot, intended for the construction of the Multifunctional Palace and the renovation of the current Palace of Communications, has been the team formed by the architects Smiljan Radić, Miquel Mariné Núñez, Beatriz Borque and César Rueda Bonet whose proposal 2029 Artefacto traces a luminous and monumental complex that is committed to transparency and to liberating the facades through a light metal structure, which provides the complex with permeability to achieve an integration of the new pavilion with the urban environment.
The Multifunctional Palace, built on the current site of the Palau de Congressos de Barcelona and Hall 4, will consist of a large two-storey building with a total of 20,500 m2 of exhibition space and is designed to host all types of events. The project includes the creation of a large landscaped walkway of more than 2,000 m2 that joins the two pavilions on the façade of Avenida Maria Cristina and that will be a privileged open-air watchtower that will complement the attractiveness of the complex.
This first lot also includes the architectural preliminary project for the renovation of the Palacio de la Comunicaciones, Hall 1 (which will be developed in a second phase) to ensure an aesthetic link and continuity between the two buildings.
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Forgas
Past and sustainable future combined
The design chosen in the second lot, which includes the construction of the new Barcelona Conference Centre in the current Alfonso XIII Palace, has been presented by Forgas Architectes, Archambac (Arquitectura Sideral) and Álvaro Alejandro Fernández. Under the slogan Umbracle, the proposal plans a large open-plan and flexible space that gives prominence to natural light. The project is committed to respecting as much as possible the current structure of the palace designed by Josep Puig i Cadafalch to create a set of spaces that include a new access from Plaça de Carles Büigas through a lobby and a courtyard-garden of 6,670m2, an exhibition hall of 3,132m2, a large auditorium with capacity for 2,025 people, as well as multiple multipurpose and meeting rooms.
The proposal stands out for its sustainability since the new building would be self-sufficient from an energy point of view thanks to the reduction of consumption through high-efficiency installations and energy production through photovoltaic, aerothermal and geothermal systems. In addition, the facility will also have a rainwater tank.
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BIG . MIAS
Fira’s New Entryway
Finally, the winner of the third lot, the one for the refurbishment of the Palacio del Vestido to house the Fira Barcelona Innovation Hub, the future permanent innovation centre of the trade fair institution, has been the team formed by Bjarke Ingels Group and MIAS Arquitectura, whose proposal entitled L’Avantsala de la Fira proposes the construction of a functional and flexible three-storey building in the shape of a “Z” surrounded by landscaped spaces open to the public. The current façade of Plaza España and its set of columns will become an entrance portico to the gardens.
The new facility will combine the original designs of Josep Puig i Cadafalch and Josep Maria Jujol with modern structures designed to accommodate flexible and connected workspaces, meeting rooms, an auditorium for more than 200 people, and a new façade on Gran Via in the shape of sawteeth and crowned by skylights that allow natural lighting of the spaces on the upper floor.
Work on this first phase will start at the beginning of 2026 and will be completed in 2029, coinciding with the celebration of the centenary of the 1929 International Expo. The planned investment is €255 million, of which €215 million will be allocated, through the company Fira 2000, to the construction of the new Multifunctional Palace and Conference Centre, and €40 million for the work on the Dress Palace by Fira de Barcelona.
In a second phase of this project to refurbish the exhibition space, a new architectural competition will be launched for the executive project for the remodelling of the Palacio de las Comunicaciones – Palau 1 and for the Palacio de la Metalurgia – Palau 8. In this way, Trade fair activities will continue throughout the renovation in the venue.
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