The project People’s Theatre addresses the growing obsolescence of cultural heritage buildings under overlapping social, economic, and climatic pressures. Using Teatre Arnau in El Raval as a case study, the project investigates how adaptive reuse can reposition a historically commodified theatre as a socio-economic commons
” This research investigates how adaptive reuse of Teatre Arnau can interrupt the reinforcing systems of gentrification and cultural re-appropriation in El Raval, by reframing heritage as a socio-economic commons rather than a cultural commodity. “
WHY THEATRE ARNAU?
Intersection: The only surviving wooden theatre in Barcelona, sitting at a critical urban fracture point.
Urgency: Immediate structural collapse risk combined with long-term climate threats.
Symbolism: A battleground between neighborhood memory and global gentrification forces.
BARRACA THEATRE
“Barraca” means hut or temporary pavilion– these were simple, timber-framed theatres built quickly and cheaply to serve the working-class population.
Historical Timeline of Teatre Arnau
Location
Landuse
Population Density
Cultural Mix
Income Index
El Raval vs Ciutat Vella vs Barcelona
The income index uses Barcelona = 100 as the reference point.
Values below 100 indicate lower average income compared to the citywide mean.
- El Raval consistently remains 30–35% below the Barcelona average.
- The Ciutat Vella district overall is slightly higher, but still below the city average.
The gap widens over time, indicating increasing socio-economic inequality.
Community Demographics
GENTRIFICATION AND CULTURAL RE-APPROPRIATION FEEDBACK LOOPS
THREATS IDENTIFICATION
Cultural: Spaces for non-spectacular production (rehearsal, archive) and multi-use performance.
Climatic: Thermally resilient gathering spaces acting as refuges during extremes.
Economic: Minimizing barriers through free/shared infrastructure.
Community Needs
The programmatic strategy for Teatre Arnau is structured around the recognition that the neighborhood is composed of overlapping cultural groups, age ranges, economic conditions, and temporal patterns of use. The theatre therefore operates not as a specialized venue, but as a shared socio-cultural infrastructure capable of accommodating difference, change, and seasonal variation. The framework organizes needs across three intersecting dimensions: cultural, climatic, and economic.
PROGRAMME
Fixed Spaces: Archives, practice rooms, and kitchen anchor the identity.
Flexible Spaces: Multi-height gathering zones, reconfigurable seating, and circulation corridors adapt to season and event.
