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Castell dels Tres Dragons begins its metamorphosis: a Modernist icon heading towards its new scientific life
Castell dels Tres Dragons, that reddish fortress guarding the entrance to Ciutadella Park, has begun to emerge from its long hibernation.
External rehabilitation work is already under way and will mark the beginning of a transformation that goes far beyond a simple restoration: the building is preparing to become one of the epicentres of Barcelona’s future science and knowledge district.
The project, with planned investment of 8 million euros, will affect virtually the entire exterior of the building. Façades, porticos, internal arches, balconies, roofs and stairways will undergo workshop work, while the immediate surroundings will be redesigned to make them more accessible and energy-efficient. If there are no setbacks, this first phase will conclude during the first quarter of 2027.
The building, closed to the public since 2011, forms part of the modernist legacy of Lluís Domènech i Montaner. For years it served as the scientific headquarters of the Museu de Ciències Naturals, but deterioration had excluded it from the civic circuit. To facilitate the start of the works, the collections it housed have already been transferred or relocated to indoor areas.
What follows opens a new chapter: transforming the interior to create a public facility focused on bringing scientific culture closer to citizens. The Castell will be integrated with other historic buildings —the Hivernacle, the Umbracle and the Centre Martorell— to act as the gateway to the Ciutadella del Coneixement, an urban complex dedicated to cutting-edge research in health, biodiversity and social wellbeing.
The move is not isolated. A few metres away, the former Mercat del Peix is preparing to build the PRBB Ciutadella, a 23,000-square-metre precision medicine centre whose construction will begin in March. Alongside new university and research facilities, it will form a scientific corridor in the very heart of Barcelona’s green area.