Originally published on March 2, 2016. Updated on May 25, 2025.
One of the most ambitious and impactful urban projects set to shape Barcelona in the coming years is the transformation of La Model prison into a public space with mixed-use facilities. This iconic site is undergoing a profound metamorphosis, a process that was led by the Neighbours’ Association of Esquerra de l’Eixample in collaboration with other stakeholders and the Barcelona City Council.
A recently proposed plan reflects a strong commitment to both urban innovation and heritage preservation. It defends the architectural integrity of the prison’s panopticon structure, demonstrating its potential for adaptation to new public uses. At the same time, the plan underscores the importance of safeguarding democratic memory, proposing the creation of a memorial space on the 4th floor Gallery—home to the “Gypsy Chapel”, a fresco painted by Helios Gómez during his imprisonment (1948–1954), adjacent to the death-row cells.
In this context, the European Observatory on Memories (EUROM) and the CrPOLIS research group at the University of Barcelona are advocating for a participatory process and integrated management plan to convert part of the prison into a space dedicated to Culture and Memory. Both groups bring extensive experience in memorial project development and are committed to interdisciplinary collaboration around the socialization of democratic memory.
They support a cross-cutting, inclusive approach—open to diverse perspectives and designed to evolve organically towards the co-creation of a comprehensive cultural and memorial plan.
Board of Experts
Jordi Guixé, Antoni Remesar, Núria Ricart, Jordi Borja, Josep Maria Muntaner, Zaida Muxí, Horst Hoheisel, Stephanie Hendlich, Pedro Brandão, Fernando Sánchez Castillo, Fernando Hernández, Jordi Henrich, Kristina Norman, Valentina Rozas, Francesc Torres