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No space in the heart of Madrid: the Generalitat unsuccessfully seeks premises
The Generalitat de Catalunya has been unable to find new premises in central Madrid after leaving Calle Alcalá. The high cost of the property market, with rents exceeding €64,000 a month, has forced it to move its activity to a less central location.
At present, the delegation is located on Calle Orense, in the district of Tetuán, after leaving its historic building next to the Banco de España, now intended to become a luxury hotel. The change means a loss of institutional visibility in one of the city's most representative areas.
The attempt to acquire a building of its own has not succeeded either. The €33 million offer has not been enough to compete in areas such as Recoletos and La Castellana, where prices continue to rise and availability is increasingly limited.
In addition, the Generalitat's specific needs — a large space with cultural, administrative and residential areas — have further reduced the options in a market where many properties are assigned to more profitable uses.
The cost of maintaining a base in Madrid has increased significantly over the last two decades, reflecting the transformation of the city centre into an increasingly exclusive and competitive space.
Beyond this specific case, the situation shows how the property market is redefining institutional presence in major cities. In a Madrid where the centre is increasingly oriented towards tourism and luxury, even public administrations find it difficult to remain in key areas, in a change that also affects the urban balance and the use of public space.