The Montjuïc fairgrounds begin the demolition phase of pavilions 4 and the current Palau dels Congressos, with a 200-ton crane. The aim is to complete the first phase by May 2029, coinciding with the centenary of the 1929 International Exhibition.
A massive 200-ton crane with a reach of up to 60 meters is already working at the Montjuïc fairgrounds, in the heart of Barcelona. It is the most visible image of the key demolition phase that started this week, with the dismantling of pavilions 4 and the current Palau dels Congressos, a necessary step before the construction of the future multifunctional pavilion.
The Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, and the Minister of Economy, Alícia Romero, who is also the president of Fira 2000, visited the works this Tuesday and assessed the pace of the work. They were accompanied by the general director of Fira 2000, Albert Civit.
Collboni described the action as the “third major transformation” of Montjuïc, following those of 1929 and the 1992 Olympic Games. The mayor argued that the renovation will make Fira a “more urban, more accessible and human-scaled” space.
In addition to the renovation of the pavilions, the project plans to free up land to build 548 affordable homes, new facilities for the neighbourhood, and over 6,000 square meters of green spaces between Poble-sec and Font de la Guatlla.
Alongside the demolitions, work is progressing on removing the asbestos cement roof of pavilion Alfonso XIII, which will house the new Palau de Congressos de Barcelona, as well as the initial actions at the Palau del Vestit.
Minister Alícia Romero highlighted that the action represents “a very important commitment” to consolidate Barcelona as a reference point for congress and meeting tourism. “We will strive to meet the commitment to finish the works by 2029,” she assured.
Romero emphasised that the modernisation of the venue will strengthen the model of a fair integrated into the city and complementary to the expansion that Fira is developing in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat.
The general director of Fira 2000, Albert Civit, acknowledged that the execution schedule is “particularly demanding.” “We are working with a very tight schedule. Nothing unusual can happen,” he admitted to the press.
Civit explained that building the future multifunctional pavilion, with an investment close to 100 million euros, in just 24 months requires maximising the scheduling of work to save time. “First we do the demolition, then the underground work, and finally the construction to minimise the timelines as much as possible,” he detailed.
Once this first phase is completed, the second phase of the transformation of the venue will begin in 2029, which will include the renovation of the Palace of Communications and the Palace of Metallurgy and will extend until 2035. Throughout this time, fair activity in Montjuïc will continue without interruption.
For residents of the Poble-sec and Font de la Guatlla neighbourhoods, the renovation will mean a significant improvement of the environment, with more green spaces and new public facilities, in addition to the planned affordable housing. The urbanisation of the area has been designed to integrate the fairgrounds into the urban fabric and facilitate pedestrian connections between the neighbourhoods and the Montjuïc mountain.
The renovation project of the Montjuïc fairgrounds is one of the most significant urban developments in the city for the next decade. With a horizon marked by the centenary of the 1929 International Exhibition, Barcelona seeks to renew one of its most emblematic spaces and adapt it to the needs of the 21st century.
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