Culture, technology and creativity as drivers of urban regeneration in Barcelona

Transcription

1 Culture, technology and creativity as drivers of urban regeneration in Barcelona Laura Capel-Tatjer Institut d Estudis d Territorials Universitat Pompeu Fabra

2 Urban regeneration: from citizen s s needs to knowledge economy Barcelona is a paradigmatic example of urban regeneration The Olympics (1992) marked a break point in the urban regeneration strategies of the city council This new strategy relates to the transformation of Barcelona into a post-fordist city Has Barcelona lost creativity potential in the process? Trieste, 6th October

3 Some data Barcelona city Population Unemployment rate 8,30% Activity rate 60,50% Foreign population 16,20% Share of total empoyment. Main economic sectors. Barcelona ,0% 20,0% 15,0% 10,0% 5,0% Source: Observatori Barcelona 0,0% Business services Industry Commerce Public Administration Hotels Transport & comm Trieste, 6th October

4 Urban regeneration: an always- present element for Barcelona s growth Small scale interventions during the first democratic years The Olympics, a catalyst for the city Trieste, 6th October

5 Urban regeneration in post- fordist Barcelona End 1990s: New urban economic development strategy of the municipality: Economic crisis and deindustrialization Need to diversify city s s economy Need of space for new economic activities The Barcelona model : Large prestigious interventions by private sector Public administration as driver of the investments City marketing oriented to create an image of a dynamic, commercial, creative city Trieste, 6th October

6 The Barcelona model Two key areas in this strategy: Culture (Pla Estratègic de Cultura, Raval area) Knowledge economy project) How have they been linked? The case of Poble Nou Trieste, 6th October

7 Creativity and urban transformation in post-fordist Barcelona: Poble Nou Trieste, 6th October

8 An urban and economic transformation Culture CREATIVITY? Knowledge Trieste, 6th October

9 Poble Nou some data An old industrial district becomes the only space the city has to expand The development of an Innovation cluster in the city Regeneration of 198 hectarees of land About 180 M M investment in infrastructure and knowledge district of Barcelona Based first on ICT sectors, then broaden (Media, Energy, Design, TecMed) Trieste, 6th October

10 Poble Nou: knowledge cluster Universities: PUF, UOC, UB Companies: Media Pro, BASF Trading Center Research Centers:Parc Científic de Barcelona, Parc de Recerca Biomèdica Trieste, 6th October

11 Lost opportunities in the process - URBAN: To benefit from a relevant industrial heritage and maintain memory and identity of the neighbourhood (and the city) - SOCIAL: To listen to citizens claims - CREATIVE: To understand creativity and knowledge in a wider meaning, accommodating informal creation Trieste, 6th October

12 Neglection of industrial heritage Banalization of the urban landscape Citizen s claims Trieste, 6th October

13 Artists collectives want to be part of They proposed ideas for the project Trieste, 6th October

14 Informal creativity has abandoned the Poble Nou area List of current and closed artist workshops (2006) Trieste, 6th October

15 The city council s s answer: trying to accomodate informal creativity Transition from a strictly technologically oriented cluster project (2000) To a wider definition of innovation cluster (2009) Inclusion of the cultural side of creativity, even if linked to leisure and not productive activities: inside22@ festival and 22@ network Trieste, 6th October

16 - The confrontation between artists and city council continues. - The initiatives of the City council have brought conflict among creative spaces Trieste, 6th October

17 But also some augmented strengths Recently the city council has recognised importance of artistic creation for the city It has been able to unify again art and heritage: Factories of Creation Old factories in different parts of the city will become centres of education, training and production of art Some claim this initiative to be too top-down and bureaucratic, that eliminates possibilities of uncontrolled and insurgent creation Trieste, 6th October

18 The new spaces for artistic creation in Barcelona Trieste, 6th October

19 Conclusions New urban regeneration strategies in Barcelona use knowledge and culture as part of their discourse However, the link between knowledge, culture and creativity has not been fully exploited Recent developments open new possibilities Trieste, 6th October

20 Thank you Laura Capel-Tatjer Institut d Estudis d Territorials Generalitat de Catalunya - UPF