Arxiu Municipal de Barcelona

The Barcelona of the 1950s experienced significant demographic pressure due to the arrival of migrants from all over Spain who came to the city looking for work in industry. But the definitive calling effect was the announcement of the celebration of the 35th Eucharistic Congress in 1952.

The authorities at that time decided that the best place to hold the congress events would be Avinguda Diagonal. But the downside was that there was a large core of shantytowns there. Felipe Acedo Colunga, civil governor of Barcelona, decided to drive out the shantytowns, demolish the nucleus of shantytowns and take them to the outskirts, in the Verdum district, where the Verdum square is today. The houses were officially inaugurated on July 10, 1953.

Sandra Ponce, responsible for archives and document management of the Municipal Archive of the Nou Barris District, explains this in this video made by Betevé.