Paint removal from façade of government HQ will cost at least €10k

The restoration work currently underway to remove red paint from the façade of the Catalan government headquarters building in Barcelona will cost at least 10,000 euros, a Catalan government source told Catalan News on Tuesday. 

This comes after a group of around 10 protesters flung paint onto the building on Sunday morning to express their discontent with the Covid-19 restrictions affecting the hospitality industry. 

Indeed, bars and restaurants have only been able to open for takeaway or delivery since October 16, causing significant strain to a sector that is used to relying on in-person diners. 

This same government source explained that it would take a week to remove the outer layers of paint splattered across the façade in addition to a number of marble statues and columns. Once this has been finalized, specialists will assess the extent of the damage to then determine the appropriate course of action required to eliminate the remaining splotches—the porousness of the Montjuïc quarry stone in question, however, makes this process even more complicated.

Furthermore, because the building is classified as being a Cultural Heritage of National Interest, only specialized restorers may work on it.