Barcelona must adopt its own city model

The New Barcelona Post begins with this interview with Valeria Andrade a monthly series of conversations with young executives participating in Barcelona 2040, the leadership and city program taught by Barcelona Global. The objective is for this new generation of leaders to share their vision of the Barcelona of the future they aspire to, as well as their impact proposals for the improvement of the city.

--- What do you expect from Barcelona in 2040?

--- I believe that the growth of the city will lead Barcelona to metropolitan reality, increasingly resembling the large cities we aspire to in terms of dimensions. In any case, in 2040 I hope to live in a transformed Barcelona, which is a benchmark in sustainability, inclusivity, innovation, and creativity, but maintaining that essence that makes it a unique place.

--- What city would you compare Barcelona to? 

--- Currently, strategic future projects are being carried out that position Barcelona alongside other major European cities: the Superilles plan and the adaptation of the city to have more green and traffic-free spaces is in line with the idea of the 15-minute city of Paris; or the Ciutadella del Coneixement as a hub of knowledge, dissemination, research, and innovation that has also been promoted in places like Oslo, with the Oslo Science City.

--- What city model do you think Barcelona should resemble? 

--- Barcelona should adopt its own city model, adapting good practices to its own characteristics and challenges. For example, rethinking the visitor economy as Amsterdam is doing, but also betting on going a step further in the digitalization of city services, as Seoul does, to be a Smart and Inclusive City.

--- What is the main challenge Barcelona must solve in the coming years? 

--- I believe that the issue of housing has been a pending task for a long time. We can bet on new future strategies, on new economic sectors, but if we are not able to offer affordable housing options for citizens, we will always end up falling behind. 

--- What do you think should be the role of new generations and their involvement in the development of the city? 

--- The new generations have to regain lost hope and reactivate the soul of the city. From getting to know Barcelona, its neighborhoods, its museums, its theaters, its parks, its restaurants, to getting involved in being able to make it better. In an era where individualism predominates, we cannot lose that spirit of collaboration that has led us to create and promote the best moments of our history.

--- Which business sectors do you think Barcelona should bet on?

--- I believe that the commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship that has been carried out for some time is positioning Barcelona in a league where perhaps a few years ago we thought we had no place. We can continue to demonstrate our potential in sectors such as science and knowledge, creative industries or other impact economies, in order to continue attracting talent and business.