Barcelona's Mayor, Jaume Collboni, has announced that the complete transformation of La Escocesa, one of Poblenou's historic textile factories, will be finished by 2029. This project, described as "highly anticipated," aims to turn the site into a "hub for economic, cultural, social, and residential innovation," while preserving the city's memory and identity.
Collboni emphasized the importance of public intervention in ensuring the "right to stay" in the neighborhood and the city, asserting that the area's prosperity will not lead to the displacement of residents. "If it weren't for the City Council's involvement, La Escocesa would surely be something else today," he stated.
The factory, dating back to 1852, originally spanned 11,528 square meters across seven warehouses. Currently, only two warehouses function as a creative hub for visual artists, while the rest show signs of neglect, necessitating recent evictions.
The comprehensive renovation of the site will require a total investment of 51.8 million euros. The council will contribute 27.2 million, with the remainder co-funded by the Generalitat, Mercabarna, and the Fundació Ampans, among other entities.
The future space will include 72 endowment housing units in the Birkhead and Steegman warehouses, intended for individuals requiring support. The Shield warehouse will house the Barcelona Foodlab, a business incubator for agri-food tech companies promoted by the City Council, Mercabarna, and the Generalitat, offering training and workspaces.
Additionally, the Paul warehouse will host a leading European inclusive art center, featuring workshops for artists with intellectual disabilities, team-building programs, and an art therapy and well-being innovation center.
