Barcelona’s Les Tres Xemeneies

A New Future for The Industrial Landmark

Picture from: MARVEL Architects project

Barcelona is once again demonstrating how architecture can bridge the past and the future. The city’s Les Tres Xemeneies, a former thermal power station that has stood dormant since 2011, will be transformed into Catalunya Media City. A dynamic hub for digital invention, education, research, and culture. The winning proposal, developed by MARVEL Architects and Garcés - de Seta - Bonet (GdSB), places preservation at the heart of the design. Rather than replacing themonumental industrial complex, the redevelopment embraces its architectural legacy, transforming one of the landmarks for a new purpose.

The massive concrete turbine hall and the three towering chimneys, long regarded as

symbols of Barcelona's industrial heritage, will remain the defining elements of the

project. The interior of former power station will accommodate exhibition spaces, digital

studios, research and education facilities, workshops, an auditorium, and public areas.

New program will be introduced through lightweight, adaptable interventions within the

existing structure, while integrated vegetation will soften the concrete interiors and bring a

bright new life to the space.

A new southern extension compliments the existing structure through a lighter, more

sustainable approach, featuring an LED media façade that reflects the site’s connection to

the digital world. To the east, a new low-rise volume accommodates technical support

functions while defining a permeable logistics street that improves the site’s operational

efficiency. Last but not least, the elevated public space seamlessly extends into the urban

surroundings and invites people from both Barcelona and Badalona.

Sustainability plays an equally important role in the redevelopment. By preserving the

existing structure, the project significantly reduces the environmental impact associated

with demolition and new construction while retaining the embodied carbon within the

existing structure. Passive environmental strategies, landscaped public areas, enhanced

pedestrian connections further reinforce the project's commitment to a more sustainable

urban future.

Projects of this kind reflect a growing international movement towards adaptive reuse,

where cities recognise the value of the industrial heritage rather than erasing it. Barcelona

now joins this conversation with a redevelopment that balances preservation, innovation,

and environmental responsibility. It represents a new chapter for Barcelona’s waterfront,

one where industrial history is not forgotten, but reimagined as the foundation for the

city’s creative and technological future.