
The Barcelona City Council has finally approved the project of the rehabilitation works of the Teatre Arnau, the last closed theater of the golden age of the Paralelo, gives the green light to the beginning of the works in this historic cultural facility.
The renovation, which aims to respect the essence of the “barraca theater”, will begin in the second quarter of 2025 and will last between 22 and 24 months, with completion estimated for the first quarter of 2027. The works will seek to racuperar the heritage value of the space, with materials such as wood and exposed concrete.
The project, promoted by the City Council, will have a budget of 10,174,841.02 euros (VAT included). The rehabilitation, under the name “Boca a Boca”, was designed by the firm Harquitectes and selected in 2018 as the winning proposal. After a first version in 2021, the final version has now been approved, which suppresses the basement floor to reduce the built surface and optimize the distribution of spaces. This modification responds to the need to adapt the theater to the new cultural and operational uses, ensuring a more efficient operation.
Teatre Arnau, the last theater in Paral-lel.
Inaugurated in 1894, the Teatre Arnau is the last remaining barraca theater in Catalonia. For years it was a symbol of Barcelona’s popular culture, especially during the golden age of Paral-lel. After a period of decline and its closure in 1995, the City Council acquired the building in 2011 and, after a participatory process with neighbors and entities, it was decided to rehabilitate it. The project will preserve historical elements such as the façade and the wooden structure, adapting them to new cultural and community uses.
The new space aims to integrate three main axes: memory, community and territory, and performing arts, hosting live and performing arts activities, as well as other cultural manifestations rooted in its history.
While the rehabilitation is being carried out, the theater has continued to live thanks to the “l’Arnau Itinerant” cycle of performances , an initiative that has transferred its activities to other spaces in the city. When it is finished, its presence along with other renovated theaters such as El Molino