Barcelona unveils its most ambitious urban model at the World Capital of Architecture

Barcelona's new interactive scale model covers 84 m² and shows the city's transformation up to 2035. It includes 1,204 removable pieces and augmented reality. It can now be visited at the former Editorial Gustavo Gili.

Barcelona is taking a decisive step in the way it understands its urban future. From this Saturday, those who live in or visit the city can take in, at a single glance, the evolution of the metropolis up to 2035. The presentation of the Plan de Barcelona 2026-2035 scale model marks the start of the World Capital of Architecture and promises to change the way the city's growth is perceived.

The installation, covering 84 m² and made with digital printing technology, brings together 1,204 pieces that accurately represent neighbourhoods, streets and landmark buildings. It is not a simple scale model: the platform is fully interactive thanks to augmented reality, making it possible to analyse the past, the present and the transformations to come. Each piece is removable and replaceable, making it easier to incorporate urban changes as Barcelona evolves.

The model covers 15 municipalities and 176 km², from the historic mouth of the Llobregat to the port of Badalona, including the seafront and the natural boundaries of Collserola and the Besòs. More than 2.4 million people are represented on this three-dimensional map, which makes it possible to identify in detail the neighbourhoods and distinctive features of the city and its metropolitan area.

The scale model is permanently displayed at the former headquarters of Editorial Gustavo Gili, the epicentre of the World Capital of Architecture. Access is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 19:00, and it is expected to become a reference point for those who want to understand how Barcelona changes day by day.

The World Capital of Architecture turns Barcelona into an international showcase for urban innovation. Throughout the year, the city hosts exhibitions, debates and activities that explore the future of urban spaces. The former Editorial Gustavo Gili, now the headquarters of this event, is an iconic Eixample building that has witnessed the cultural and architectural evolution of the city. Its transformation into a reference centre reinforces Barcelona's role as a laboratory for ideas and urban projects on a global scale.