The Arenas de Barcelona
By Ruizhe Yin
Located at the foot of Montjuïc, the Arenas de Barcelona has become one of Barcelona’s iconic landmark buildings, forming part of a distinctive historical complex together with nearby Plaça d’Espanya, the Venetian Towers, and the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya. This landmark was originally built in 1900 to serve as a bullring. In 2011, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners collaborated with Alonso Balaguer to redesign and adaptive reuse the building as a multifunctional mall with dining, shopping, and views. The historic facade has been preserved, while the interior has been reinforced and renovated. At the same time, they designed a 100-meter-long rooftop promenade offering panoramic views. From a design perspective, this is undoubtedly a great achievement. However, the reality is far more complex.
I chose to visit on a weekday afternoon, expecting to find crowds of people. However, the shops still opening on the ground floor had very few customers, and from the third floor up, almost all the tenants had moved out; only a movie theater and rooftop restaurants were still open. Most of the shops in the building are vacant. This situation stands in contrast to the original visions for the project.
The observation deck attracts the majority of visitors; it is arguably the mall’s biggest highlight, offering breathtaking 360-degree panoramic views. Interestingly, there is an additional fee to ride the glass elevator, though the observation deck is still accessible via the regular escalators. This inadvertently reduces a bunch of people to purchase for the tickets, since the observation deck can be reached either way.
It is commonly believed that adaptive reuse is a commendable practice in itself, as it preserves old buildings and help remember cultural heritage. I believe that the current state of the Arenas de Barcelona let us to remind that the real challenge does not end when a building is completed, but in how we manage this “artifact.” Without tenants, visitors, and basic maintenance, even the finest design and views will eventually fade away. This magnificent building deserves a better future.