MACBA expansion works begin in spite of residents' calls for halting project 

The first phase of the expansion project of the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA) got underway this Monday, against the will of many neighbors.  

The construction is expected to last 15 months and will reorganize pedestrian access to the underground parking lot in the adjacent Plaça dels Àngels. The expansion project, with a budget of €16.26 million, will be carried out in two phases and is scheduled for completion by early 2027. 

The initial works involve laying the foundation for the museum's new building, constructing new public restrooms, and reorganizing pedestrian access to the underground parking lot. While construction in ongoing, the Barcelona city council recommend using alternative routes around the square.  

As part of the work, a new transformer station will be installed, and the ventilation shaft in the center of the square will be removed. The relocation of public restrooms to Convent dels Àngels is planned for April 2026. Until then, the existing restrooms will remain in service. Given the site’s location within a designated Archaeological Interest Zone, a preventive archaeological assessment is also planned. 

The second phase of the construction will include new museum phases, like the construction of new galleries. This phase will begin as soon as progress on the first phase allows it.  

The Barcelona city council is also exploring a redesign of Plaça dels Àngels, aiming to create a more welcoming space with additional seating areas instead of the current "hardscape" design. 

Complaints from locals 

Xarxa Veïnal del Raval, the neighborhood resident association, have called for an immediate halt to the construction works as they are not in favour of the council's plan to expand the museum and redesign the square.  

"This square is not just a gathering place for residents and visitors but also a symbol of the neighborhood's multicultural and dynamic identity," the group said in a statement. They argue that losing this public space in favor of an infrastructure "prioritizing corporate events and activities disconnected from local needs is unacceptable." 

Xarxa Veïnal del Raval has filed two administrative lawsuits against the project and is now considering requesting precautionary measures to halt construction until the legal proceedings are resolved. "It is imperative that municipal authorities respect the legal process and suspend any further work until the court cases are settled," they stated.