Barcelona Puzzle – 540 pieces

The history of the Cerdà Plan ‘s approval is actually quite complex. In the mid-19th century, in a climate characterized by the slogan “Down with the Walls!”, the city of Barcelona announced a competition for the expansion of the city on the flat land that extended before the villages of Sarrià and Gràcia. The winning project was the project presented by architect Antoni Rovira i Trias, which envisioned a radial expansion starting from the old city.

However, Madrid didn’t like the plan, which was imposed by royal decree on Cerdà’s proposal. Cerdà’s proposal was more inspired by contemporary Haussmannian projects for the redevelopment of Paris, even though there was nothing to destroy here, only to build.

The engineer’s motto was: “Ruralize the city, urbanize the countryside,” words that summarized his demands for utopian socialism combined with the demands of rationality and geometric equality. Thus, little by little, the similar octagonal blocks arose, each with its rounded corners. Many disliked this approach, including Puig i Cadafalch, who detested its “sacred monotony.”

In reality, Cerdà’s initial project envisioned much more green space and was partially undermined by property speculation aimed at expanding residential and commercial space, rather than providing services for residents such as hospitals, schools, markets, and parks.

Despite these limitations, the Eixample remains one of the most significant urban planning projects of modern Europe, with its streets at least 20 meters wide, wide sidewalks, and open spaces now occupied by hundreds of cafes and public places.