The selected design, chosen from 20 proposals, will transform this small palace in the Parc de la Ciutadella into a space open to the public, highlighting its heritage value. The ground floor will become the entrance to the Museum of Natural Sciences, featuring a large exhibition hall for reception and scientific outreach, which will include an integrated cafeteria.
This hall will display unique pieces of Catalan and Barcelona natural heritage, such as the reconstructed Sarrià mammoth and minerals of exceptional value. The project, named Eix de la Ciència (Science Axis), is conservative, preserving original elements of Domènech i Montaner's work, such as the pavement, ceilings, main staircase, and ornamental features.
“"The Castell dels Tres Dragons was born linked to science and outreach and the 1888 Universal Exhibition; later it was the Zoology Museum, until it housed the scientific part of the Museum of Natural Sciences. Now, with this transformation, it will become the gateway to the future Ciutadella del Coneixement."
The first floor will host a versatile assembly hall with retractable seating, recovering characteristic ornamental elements like polychromy and shields. The second floor is planned for a public library and permanent exhibition spaces for the Museum of Natural Sciences, focusing on the flora, fauna, and geology of Catalonia.
This interior reform addresses the goal of making the castle, which has been restricted to the public since 2011, function as a hub for transmitting knowledge generated in the Ciutadella del Coneixement. Regarding the exterior, rehabilitation works on the facade and roofs, estimated at 8 million euros, are already underway and are expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2027.
