Housing in Focus at Urban Forum
The fourth edition of the BCN Desperta! forum opened on Wednesday 30 September at Casa Seat in Barcelona, with housing as its central theme for the first day. The event, organised by Crónica Global and Metrópoli with El Español, runs until Friday 2 October and brings together political leaders, business figures and experts to discuss key challenges facing the city and wider region. Barcelona mayor Jaume Collboni opened the forum, presenting the city’s current situation in a dialogue with Ignasi Jorro, director of Crónica Global, and Manel Manchón, director of Metrópoli. The discussion set the stage for a day examining public housing policy, urban development and regulatory barriers to new construction.
Metropolitan Mayors Debate Public Housing
A key panel brought together three mayors from the metropolitan area, Mireia González of Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Xavier García Albiol of Badalona, and Marta Farrés of Sabadell, to compare municipal strategies for increasing public housing supply. The debate highlighted the need for supramunicipal collaboration to tackle the housing crisis across Greater Barcelona, according to participants. Other sessions examined legal and notarial obstacles to building new homes, the economic role of housing, and links between housing, tourism and healthcare. Representatives from Metrovacesa, Foment del Treball, the Consorci del Besòs and the Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona also took part.
The crisis of the housing shortage can only be addressed through supramunicipal collaboration and metropolitan coordination.
Later in the afternoon, discussions turned to Barcelona’s international projection, branding and urban identity, including a cultural session on the transformation of Raval from the historic Chinatown.
Bolaños Closes First Day
Félix Bolaños, Spain’s Minister for the Presidency, closed the first day of debates in a dialogue with Ignasi Jorro at 18:05 on 30 September. His appearance marked the conclusion of a day that placed housing at the heart of discussions about Barcelona’s future, involving local administrations, private developers, legal experts and social organisations. The forum continues on Thursday 1 October with a focus on defence and technology, beginning with an address by Generalitat President Salvador Illa. The final day, Friday 2 October, will cover economy, industry and governance.
Primary sources: badalona.cat. Reported by metropoliabierta.elespanol.com, SIMÓN SÁNCHEZ, cronicaglobal.elespanol.com, Metrópoli Abierta - Urban Life.
