This year we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the birth of district 22@, a space that represented a brave commitment to transform the industrial fabric of Poblenou into a cutting-edge business campus, with the aim of attracting talent and boosting the knowledge economy. Over the years, the district has evolved, adapting to new realities and to social and economic changes. In this vein, 2022 was an important year, as residential density was increased to give more life to the neighborhood, beyond the working day. Even so, it is not enough.
Thus, the real challenge for the next decade is to turn 22@ into a truly vibrant, human space with multiple uses. An attractive district where to live and work. Today, companies not only compete to attract and retain talent; they also need to motivate it to physically come to the office. Achieving this will only be possible if we offer an environment that generates a desire to be lived.
In this scenario, I imagine a 22@ that consolidates a real estate park that is a benchmark in sustainability, both in energy efficiency and environmental impact. A space where those who work can also live, with student residences, affordable and free housing, and with an educational offer that includes more universities, vocational training centers and international schools. In this way, coexistence between students, researchers and professionals is favored, a fundamental aspect for the district.
I also imagine a district with a good cultural and restaurant offer, with green spaces and meeting places that foster connection between people, companies and, above all, ideas. I imagine an open ecosystem that promotes innovation from proximity and human value.
The City Council has a unique opportunity to take a step forward and improve the mix of uses hand in hand with the revision of the Special Plan for the Regulation of Public Concurrence activities in the Sant Martí district (uses plan), which regulates, among others, the opening of restaurant activities. If we want a truly lively 22@ that competes with other European districts, we must bet on spaces that invite people to stay.
In short, the 22@ of the next ten years has to be more than a center of economic activity. It has to be a model of an inclusive, resilient, and inspiring city. A global reference for what a true innovation district should be: sustainable, connected, and alive.