Barcelona City Council has started the procedures to contract the demolition of the old customs house at França Station, a historic building from 1926. This space, which was used to receive migrants and was shared by border police and the Guàrdia Urbana, will be demolished despite its classification as a document of interest and being the last remaining example from the early days of the railway infrastructure. The municipal justification for the demolition is based on the area's designation for the basic road network, deeming the building out of compliance.
The building's situation and its imminent demolition will be addressed at the next Municipal Plenary session. Barcelona En Comú will present a request, led by councilor Jordi Rabassa, asking for the decision to be reconsidered. The party argues that the works for the new Public State Library, designed by Nitidus Arquitectes, do not affect the old customs house, as previous plans allowed for space around the century-old facilities.
“"Given the recent disappearance of several railway heritage buildings in the city, we ask the government to reconsider the demolition of the old Customs House, a vestige of Barcelona's railway heritage, and to maintain it as contemplated in the executive project for the new provincial library."
Barcelona En Comú has also requested access to the heritage report justifying the demolition. It is worth remembering that a mezzanine was added to the police section of the building in the mid-20th century, and since then it has undergone several interior renovations, recently housing municipal service offices.
