Palau Marcet begins its transformation into the Museu Carmen Thyssen

The planning change redefines the use of the property, which will be designated for sociocultural activities of metropolitan scope. The intervention will make it possible to rehabilitate, restore and extend a listed building that has remained closed since the end of its cinema activity.

The Palau Marcet is listed as a cultural asset of local interest, so the works must respect its principal architectural elements. The project envisages recovering the original façades and the extensions made during the 1930s.

The materials, finishes and colours used will have to maintain the property’s historic appearance. Any intervention must also be assessed by the technical bodies responsible for heritage and urban protection in the Eixample.

The museum may incorporate complementary services, such as a shop or restaurant, provided they are linked to the cultural activity. These uses may not exceed 18% of the total floor area, so that most of the building remains reserved for exhibitions and other museum content.

The underground level may be used for technical facilities, parking and security spaces, including vaults for conserving the works. These works must not affect protected heritage elements.

The extension will also have limits on height and volume. The new complex must fit the dimensions of neighbouring buildings in order to maintain the urban continuity of one of the most visible junctions in central Barcelona.

The conversion will make it possible to recover a closed property and restore cultural activity to this corner of the Eixample. The museum’s future opening will expand the artistic offering of Passeig de Gràcia and give a new civic use to one of the area’s most recognisable historic buildings.