Barcelona has added 16 new publicly subsidised homes to its housing stock with the opening of the Torrent Viu development at 4 General Vives Street in the Sarrià neighbourhood of the Sarrià–Sant Gervasi district. Residents have begun moving in, following a symbolic key handover ceremony held this Friday by the Barcelona City Council to Marta Vendrell, president of the Torrent Viu cooperative.
The Deputy Mayor for Economy, Housing, Finance, and Tourism, Jordi Valls, attended the event and congratulated the new residents, stating they
will be able to develop a long-term life project in their neighborhood, Sarrià, thanks to the alliances forged between the public sector and third-sector entities to guarantee the right of residents to remain in Barcelona's neighborhoods
.
Cooperative Model Frees Space for Community Living
The building was constructed by the Torrent Viu cooperative on municipal land granted under a 75-year right-of-use agreement. The model allows non-profit cooperatives to develop affordable housing while ensuring the properties remain permanently protected. The apartments, ranging from 40 to 70 square metres, are designed for adaptability, each can be configured as one, two, three or four rooms depending on family needs.
All 16 units are arranged around a central core containing kitchens and bathrooms, optimising space for shared communal areas. The structure uses a hybrid wood-concrete design for improved thermal and acoustic comfort, with natural and recyclable materials including wood and mineral wool.
Celobert Cooperative led the architectural design, creating flexible shared spaces across a semi-basement, ground floor and three upper levels, each with four apartments. Perviure Cooperative provided ongoing support in governance, financing, legal advice and group cohesion throughout the project.
Partnerships Expand Access to Protected Housing
The Nazareth Foundation is managing one apartment specifically designated for young people undergoing emancipation. This reflects the broader aim of the city’s Viure Plan: to expand access to dignified, affordable housing across social groups.
The right-of-use model is central to the City Council’s strategy, formalised through the ESAL agreement signed in 2020 with non-profit housing developers. That agreement has now allocated all available land, prompting the council to prepare a second ESAL phase targeting 1,500 additional public housing units.
The council continues expanding partnerships with unions, INCASOL, the Zona Franca Consortium and open tenders to activate more operators in building socially protected homes across Barcelona.
Primary sources: ajuntament.barcelona.cat, Barcelona City Council.
