Three major projects will transform the Montjuïc venue
The future Montjuïc venue is starting to take shape through the designs of the winning teams of the architectural competition, announced today during the Commission for the Centenary of the 1929 International Exposition. Three unique monumental halls —sustainable, avant-garde, and blending modernity with historical surroundings— will define the first phase of the renovation of this iconic city landmark. The goal is to transform it into a cutting-edge urban exhibition space for the 21st century.
This was one of the key topics discussed at this morning’s meeting of the Commission for the Centenary, comprised by the Barcelona City Council, the Government of Catalonia and Fira de Barcelona, which continues to make progress in the design of the themes of the programme of commemorative activities and the configuration of the management bodies that will develop it.
Thus, this morning the Commission was presented with the winning architectural projects responsible for designing the first three major renovations within the Montjuïc venue, following the decision of the jury made up of five renowned experts and chaired by the architect Josep Lluís Mateo. Key criteria included optimizing the tradeshow facilities to modernize them, making them more flexible and versatile, under parameters of efficiency, digitalisation and sustainability.
The Multifunctional Hall, built on the current site of the Palau de Congressos de Barcelona and Hall 4, will consist of a large two-storey building with a total of 20,500 m2 of exhibition space and is designed to host all kinds of events. The project includes the creation of a large landscaped walkway of more than 2,000 m2 that joins the two pavilions on the façade of Avenida Maria Cristina and that will be a privileged open-air watchtower that will complement the attractiveness of the buildings.
This first lot also includes the architectural preliminary project for the renovation of the Palau de les Comunicacions (Hall 1), which will be developed in a second phase, to ensure an aesthetic link and continuity between the two buildings.
Past and sustainable future combined
The design chosen in the second lot, which encompasses the construction of the new Palau de Congressos de Barcelona in the current Palau Alfons XIII, has been the one presented by Forgas Architectes, Archambac (Arquitectura Sideral) and Álvaro Alejandro Fernández. Under the theme Umbracle, the proposal outlines a large open-plan and flexible space that gives prominence to natural light. The project is committed to respecting as much as possible the current structure of the hall designed by Josep Puig i Cadafalch to create a set of spaces that include a new access from Plaça de Carles Büigas through a lobby and a courtyard-garden of 6,670m2, an exhibition hall of 3,132m2, a large auditorium with capacity for 2,025 people, as well as several multipurpose and meeting rooms.
The proposal stands out for its sustainability since the new building would be self-sufficient from an energy point of view, thanks to the reduction of consumption through high-efficiency installations and energy production through photovoltaic, aerothermal and geothermal systems. In addition, the facility will also have a stormwater collection deposit.
Fira’s New Entryway
Finally, the winner of the third lot, focused on the renovation of the Palau del Vestit to house the Fira Barcelona Innovation Hub, the future permanent innovation centre of the tradeshow institution, has been the team formed by Bjarke Ingels Group and MIAS Architects, whose project titled L’Avantsala de la Fira proposes the construction of a functional and flexible three-storey building in the shape of a “Z” surrounded by garden open to the public. The current façade of Plaza España and its set of columns will become an entrance portico to the gardens.
The new facility will combine the original designs of Josep Puig i Cadafalch and Josep Maria Jujol with modern structures designed to accommodate flexible and connected workspaces, meeting rooms, an auditorium for more than 200 people, and a new façade on Gran Via in the shape of sawteeth and crowned by skylights that allow natural lighting of the upper floor.
Work on this first phase will start at the beginning of 2026 and will be completed in 2029, coinciding with the celebration of the centenary of the 1929 International Expo. The planned investment is €255 million, of which €215 million will be allocated, through Fira 2000, to the construction of the new Multifunctional Hall and Palau de Congressos de Barcelona, and €40 million for the works on the Palau del Vestit by Fira de Barcelona.
In a second phase of this project to refurbish the exhibition space, a new architectural competition will be launched for the executive project for the remodelling of the Palacio de las Comunicaciones – Palau 1 and for the Palacio de la Metalurgia – Palau 8. In this way, Trade fair activities will continue throughout the renovation in the venue.
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