Culture, technology and creativity as drivers of urban regeneration in Barcelona Laura Capel-Tatjer Institut d Estudis d Territorials Universitat Pompeu Fabra
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 2009 2
Some data Barcelona city. 2008 Population 1.615.908 Unemployment rate 8,30% Activity rate 60,50% Foreign population 16,20% Share of total empoyment. Main economic sectors. Barcelona 2008 25,0% 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 2009 3
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 2009 4
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 2009 5
The Barcelona model Two key areas in this strategy: Culture (Pla Estratègic de Cultura, Raval area) Knowledge economy (22@ project) How have they been linked? The case of Poble Nou 22@ Trieste, 6th October 2009 6
Creativity and urban transformation in post-fordist Barcelona: Poble Nou 22@bcn Trieste, 6th October 2009 7
An urban and economic transformation Culture CREATIVITY? Knowledge Trieste, 6th October 2009 8
Poble Nou 22@: some data An old industrial district becomes the only space the city has to expand 22@: 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 2009 9
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 2009 10
22@: 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 2009 11
Neglection of industrial heritage Banalization of the urban landscape Citizen s claims Trieste, 6th October 2009 12
Artists collectives want to be part of 22@ They proposed ideas for the project Trieste, 6th October 2009 13
Informal creativity has abandoned the Poble Nou area List of current and closed artist workshops (2006) Trieste, 6th October 2009 14
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 2009 15
- The confrontation between artists and city council continues. - The initiatives of the City council have brought conflict among creative spaces Trieste, 6th October 2009 16
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 2009 17
The new spaces for artistic creation in Barcelona Trieste, 6th October 2009 18
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 2009 19
Thank you Laura Capel-Tatjer Institut d Estudis d Territorials Generalitat de Catalunya - UPF