Urban Planning, Ecological Transition, Urban Services and Housing

Renovation work gets under way this week on the Mercat de l’Abaceria, in Gràcia. The new building will have 14,350 square metres of floor space, consisting of a ground floor, an upper floor on two levels and three underground floors. Work is expected to take around 24 months and has a budget of 22.5 million euros.

The renovation project has been developed jointly with local residents and commerce in and around the market, taking on board the main demand from local residents to add 1,500 square metres of greenery to public space. The entire perimeter area of the market will be regained, and more notably the area around C/ Mare de Déu dels Desemparats, where a public space will be created where people can spend time and where local residents can organise activities.

A new entrance in the façade in C/ Torrijos will allow for a sizeable foyer to be created for all sorts of temporary activities. In all, local associations in the neighbourhood will gain 6,000 square metres to engage in activities.

The vintage appearance of the rooftop will be regained and combined with an energy efficiency space, ceramic elements alternating with coloured solar panelling and generating energy without the need for large additional covers or visually aggressive pieces.

The spatial distribution of the new Mercat de l’Abaceria, which returns to its original site, will consist of a ground floor with spaces for food stalls and non-food stalls, an upper floor and three underground floors. The first floor below ground will house a supermarket while the third floor below ground will provide logistics areas for neighbourhood associations and organisations.

Changes in traffic directions due to work

The start of work will entail a change in the direction of traffic in Travessera de Gràcia, between C/ Torrent de l’Olla and C/ Roger de Flor.  A traffic light and a reserved pedestrian entrance will be created at the junction between C/ Torrent d’Olla and C/ Penedès/Puigmartí. The direction of traffic in C/ Ciudad Real will also be changed, between Travessera de Gràcia and C/ Ramón y Cajal.

Similarly, the route of the 114 bus will change, and occasionally the 39 bus (when the pedestrian crossing is created and the service crossing in C/ Torrent de l’Olla). The two-way bike lane in Travessera de Gràcia will also be extended as far as C/ Montmany.