Las Arenas was built in 1900 to be used as a bullring in Plaça Espanya. The popularity of bullfighting in Catalunya decreased and eventually the ring was closed in 1977. It was abandoned and forgotten until 2003 when Richard Rogers Partnership and Alonso-Balaguer Arquitectos Asociados decided to convert the building into a shopping mall. The idea was great, but unfortunately their dream project became a nightmare.
The architects contracted the company Dragados to construct the building, but Dragados stopped working after months without a paycheck and so another company was hired. The crisis caused a huge impact on the construction and nothing was done for over a year. The whole construction process took eight years.
According to catalan law, the façade could not be touched so the architects worked around the façade.
Las Arenas is 90% filled to capacity of its 100,000 squared meters.
There are five floors and parking for 1,250 cars and 500 motorbikes. This space is used for shops such as, Blanco, Desigual, Mango, Sephora, Tous... and also a gym with a spa and a track around the circumference of the ring. There is a supermarket, eight restaurants and 12 cinemas.
Las Arenas is a symbol of economic recuparation for Barcelona. It´s a clear message that the city is getting over the crisis and that investors believe in Barcelona. The construction cost about 70,000,000 euros. The new shopping mall has created over 300 jobs within the mall and has given 800 people work during the construction.
interesting! a better word to talk about "recuperación" is "recovery".
ResponderEliminarI've been to Las Arenas and although I think that they could have found something more creative to do instead of a shopping mall, I'm happy that the building has been recycled and is currently in use.
I found that it is and Interesting article, and that in times of crisis are always looking for ways to create new jobs. With the reform of the court fights, is to get many people to get a job. Anyway I think Barcelona is a city where every day there are more entertainment options, such as shopping malls. Them today, we find everything from clothes, shoes, bars, restaurants, cinema, .. and are a meeting point for many people. The only thing I unlike is that you lose interest in visiting other areas of the city that are also beautiful to visit.
ResponderEliminarI think Las Arenas shopping mall has been a good idea to reform the bullring that was no longer used. This project has created jobs during a difficult economic period and in a sector in crisis such as construction and will continue generating work in the future for many years with the shops that are inside.
ResponderEliminarIn my opinion it’s a nice plan for the weekend for young people and families with children to go to a mall where there is a bit of culture in our countrie!