Revitalization actions in the city of Terrassa

Transcription

1 Revitalization actions in the city of Terrassa Joan Chicón Terrassa City Council Challenges facing mono-sector cities Open Days Brussels, 5 th October 2010

2 The city of Terrassa Area: 70km 2 Population: inhabitants Area of influence: more than people GDP: euro 3.550,89 million Working population: Unemployment rate: 18,71

3 Industrialization of Terrassa XVIII century: the city starts to specialise its industry around the production of quality fabrics Between 1830 and 1875: the city became a big wool centre The shortage of water contributed the use of steam power for the industries. In a pioneer way, Terrassa started to be fulfilled of chimneys and steamers This development could not be understood without the arrival of the railway in 1856: Improves its communications and the transportation of English coal from the Barcelona port The railway gives more dynamism to the local textile production It allows to receive raw materials from Castilla and Aragón

4 Rising of large textile factories in the city centre led to the development of a new type of factory and residential building conceived by Catalan Art Nouveau architects (especially Lluís Muncunill). This long period of more than one and a half century ended with the large industrial textile crisis of the 1970s. This crisis affected all Spain but due to its industrial tradition had a big impact on Terrassa. Many factories stopped their activities and had to close generating an economic and labour crisis. The unemployment raised over 30%. Terrassa had to start a low industrial rationalization process and the diversification of the local economy.

5 Nowadays, Terrassa is a dynamic and active city in several fields such as services, culture, nature, sports (remarkable the field hockey sportive tradition) and education, with a university campus with more than 15,000 students.

6 Revitalization actions in the city of Terrassa In the last 30 years Terrassa has suffered three periods of dramatic transformation that have changed the city from and industrial town in crisis to a city for the XXI century: From the return of the democracy to the Barcelona Olympic Games The final industrial rationalization to a services city 2003 Nowadays A city for the XXI century

7 From the return of the democracy to the Barcelona Olympic Games First democratic local elections took place in A new process will dramatically change the whole city Pla General d Ordenació (Town General Planning) of 1983: -Growing of the city in an updated and modern conception -Protection of the architectonic heritage (also industrial) -Period of transformation without precedent

8 Examples: The Museu de la Ciència i de la Tècnica de Catalunya (Museum of Science and Technology of Catalonia) The Olympic area

9 The final industrial rationalization to a services city Pla Estratègic de Terrassa (Strategic Planning of Terrassa) of 1993: -Agreed among the City Council and more than 200 local entities. -Aim: empowerment of the University Campus, first level new infrastructures and the recovery of the historical centre

10 End of the process of moving the new industries to the suburbs of the city: the industrial areas Two new industrial areas: Santa Margarida II and Els Bellots All the industrial areas are placed in the South of the city (about 6 km²) They are fully integrated inside the urban planning of Terrassa. They have become new services areas with leisure areas (cinemas, restaurants and stores).

11 New uses for old factories of the city centre Vapor Universitari de Terrassa (University Steamer of Terrassa): m 2 University and research centre La Farinera Complex: 9000m 2 audiovisual and communication centre

12 New uses for old industrial infrastructures Railway and train station (RENFE) Public works to cover the railway and train station New big avenue and public park of m 2

13 New uses for old industrial infrastructures The bus terminal Station for the intercity buses, the 15 Terrassa bus lines and other lines from the metropolitan region of Barcelona.

14 A city for the XXI century Pla d Ordenació Urbanística Municipal (Municipal Town Planning) of 2003: - Last rationalization wave of old textile factories: Plaça Nova - Improvement of the green areas: Vallparadís Park extension

15 Last rationalization wave of old textile factories The old textile factory Vapor Gran (Big Steamer) has become the Plaça Nova: 8.200m 2, residential area, hotel and shops

16 Improvement of the green areas Vallparadís Park extension: from a dump for the waste of the factories to a 3.5km 2 long park

17 Improvement of the transport infrastructures RENFE and FGC: 1 new train station (RENFE) and 3 regional metro stations (FGC)

18 An innovative city Pla de la Innovació Local de Terrassa (Terrassa s Local Innovation Plan) of 2007: Aim: improve Terrassa s innovative capacities and sphere of influence to stimulate economic development and competitiveness Focus on: emerging clusters (optics and photonics engineering, ecotechnology, aeronautics, audiovisual, health)

19 Cluster ring and activity sectors Sectorial clusters Health Food Audiovisual/Digital Technical textiles University cluster Optics/Photonics Aeronautics Energy and Water Transversal and big companies Big companies Horizontal- Talent Entrepreneurship - Space Vapor Gran

20 Orbital.40 Scientific and Technological Park of Terrassa

21 Thanks for your attention!