Palo Alto Barcelona: an Oasis of Creativity

expanding design practices, FULL, Fundación Palo Alto, Middle Density, Project, Territory and mobility

Architect’s role, Art, Barcelona, Creativity, Cultural agitator, Culture, Future Urban Legacy Lab, Industrial context, Multifunctional space, Project, Refurbishment, Spain, Territorial Approach, Urban Legacy

The first historical documentation of this factory dates back to June 1875, when the textile manufacturing company owned by Ramon Gal and Juan Puigsech opened very close to the building, near Pellaires Street. A year later, Agusti Coll i Torné acquired the facility, and then the business passed from owner to another until 1927, when August Ramoneda bought the factory. His company closed down in 1940 as a consequence, among other reasons, of the constant bombardments that affected the area during the Spanish Civil War. From 1940 to 1950, the building was occupied by several workshops. Facing demolition during the urbanistic reform planned before the ’92 Olympic games, the building remained standing thanks to the installation of studios for artists and professionals, who are still writing the history of this city block today.