This is what the Thyssen Museum on the site of the former Comedia will definitely look like: it will have a shop and a café with terraces overlooking Pg. de Gràcia [PHOTOS]

If there is one corner of Barcelona that has witnessed our best popcorn-filled evenings and movie premieres, it is undoubtedly the intersection of Gran Via and Paseo de Gràcia. The legendary Cine Comèdia, which for decades was a refuge for film lovers in the city center, is about to hang up the “to be continued” sign and transform itself into something much more ambitious: the new Carmen Thyssen Museum in Barcelona.

As explained by La Vanguardia, the project, promoted by Stoneweg and designed by the Barcelona studio OUA together with the British firm Casper Mueller Kneer Architects, has already been officially submitted to the City Council for processing. And take note, because this is not just a facelift; this is a project that aims to blend in with the city skyline and, in the process, restore the splendor of a palace that time (and movie posters) had left somewhat forgotten.

A palace that recovers its original color

The jewel in the crown is the restoration of the Palau Marcet. The first thing we will notice is that the façade will once again display its original colors, those it had when it was built at the end of the 19th century, as the architects want the palace to once again be the star of the block.

As for the interior, the layout is designed to allow art to breathe. The ground floor will house a specialist bookshop and a design store, while the first floor will be home to the permanent collection. And what will we see on the walls? The project speaks of a strong focus on Catalan and Spanish art, with names that are pure history of bohemian Barcelona: Ramon Casas, Santiago Rusiñol, Joaquim Mir, and Isidre Nonell.

The “backdrop” that will get people talking

Source: OUA / Casper Mueller Kneer Architects

But if anything is going to generate conversation on the terraces of the Eixample, it is the new building that will be erected just behind the palace. Those responsible for the project describe it as a “backdrop,” a volume that, although it has been reduced from the initial sketches to comply with regulations, seeks to blend in with its surroundings thanks to a color scheme that aims to merge with the blue (or gray, depending on the day) of the Barcelona sky.

This new space will be used mainly for temporary exhibitions and aims to function as a cultural laboratory to analyze how Barcelona has influenced world art and vice versa. In addition, it has been confirmed that the museum will not have a restaurant with direct access from the street, but will be located on an interior terrace protected by a shed with handmade tiles, ideal for having a coffee surrounded by history without the noise of Gran Via traffic.

A new cultural hub for 2026

The timing could not be more opportune. Barcelona is kicking off its stint as World Capital of Architecture this year , and the Thyssen joins a list of projects that are redefining the city’s cultural leisure offerings. With a capacity of up to 400 people in its future underground auditorium, the center not only wants to be a place for tourists to pass through, but also a meeting point for locals with book presentations and multipurpose rooms.

Although some details still need to be finalized, such as whether we will enter through the usual corner or through the Paseo de Gràcia door, what is clear is that the Comèdia is preparing to once again become an important part of the city’s cultural scene.