Barcelona

1. Architectural Diversity: Beyond the famous works of Antoni Gaudí, Barcelona is home to a unique blend of architectural styles that reflect its diverse history, including Gothic, Modernisme, and contemporary designs. The city features hidden architectural gems in lesser-known neighborhoods that often go unnoticed by both tourists and locals. 2. Underground River: Barcelona has an underground river called the "Riu Besòs," which flows beneath the city. It was once a vital water source but has since been largely forgotten, with parts of it now flowing through tunnels and beneath urban developments. 3. Human Towers: A little-known tradition in Barcelona is the art of "castells," or human towers. This UNESCO-recognized cultural practice involves groups of people building towering human structures during festivals. It showcases remarkable teamwork and physical prowess and is an integral part of Catalan identity.

Barcelona’s housing market in 2025 is marked by high demand, supply constraints, and increasingly stringent regulations. Approximately 65% of Barcelona’s residents are renters, while about 35% are homeowners. Median rental prices have reached around €19 to €21 per square meter per month, with the average monthly rent now close to €1,200. To purchase an apartment, the median price is currently between €4,350 and €4,560 per square meter citywide, though this can surpass €7,000 in prime districts. Publicly owned housing plays a limited role. Public or social housing accounts for only about 2% of the total housing stock in Barcelona—well below the European average. In local policy, “public housing” often refers to all housing promoted by government bodies, which includes both social housing (affordable housing for vulnerable groups) and subsidized housing for middle-income families. Social housing is a subset, aimed specifically at those in need, while the broader public housing category can include homes for people with somewhat higher incomes. Due to low availability, public and social housing have little impact on overall housing affordability, forcing most residents to rely on the private market. Persistent shortages, high prices, and the influence of short-term rentals and investor demand continue to drive challenges in access and affordability across the city.

Barcelona's housing crisis is acute and deepening, marked by soaring prices, limited supply, and an affordability gap that has only widened over the past decade. Rents have surged by 68% in ten years, while home prices have risen 47% since 2015, but average household incomes have only grown 33%. This gap has left many residents—especially low- and middle-income earners, young people, and families—increasingly unable to afford to live in the city. The crisis is fueled by several factors: an influx of tourists, the proliferation of short-term rentals like Airbnb, a surge in demand from both foreign investors and expatriates, and population growth driven by immigration. These dynamics have made long-term rentals scarcer and more expensive, particularly in central and “trendy” neighborhoods, displacing locals and intensifying gentrification. The number of new homes built is vastly outpaced by new household formation, and evictions due to rent arrears have jumped by 30% since 2019. Residents most affected include low-income groups, young adults, families, and long-term locals—many of whom are forced to leave for more affordable suburbs. Long-term tenants and the local workforce, especially in previously working-class neighborhoods, face growing hardship as property owners favor wealthier newcomers and tourists. The crisis has intensified social inequalities and triggered public protests demanding urgent action to make housing accessible and affordable for all.

Barcelona’s city administration is actively addressing affordable and sustainable housing through a series of strategic plans and innovative programs. The current policy framework is guided by the Barcelona Right to Housing Plan 2016–2025, which aims to expand public and affordable rental housing, promote sustainability, and protect vulnerable groups. A new participatory process was launched in 2025 to shape the Housing Plan 2025–2032, focused on guaranteeing the right to housing, renovating existing stock, and targeting demographic and social vulnerabilities. Key targets include reaching 15% of all primary residences as social or affordable housing by 2035, a substantial increase from the current share. The city’s flagship initiatives include: - The construction of 8,000 new public rental homes, of which 80% will be designated for affordable and social rent, with the remainder available through long leases. - The 30% Social Housing Rule, which mandates that developers allocate 30% of new developments or major rehabilitations to protected social housing, though its future scope is currently the subject of political debate, with civic groups pushing for an increase to 40%. - The Habitage Metròpolis Barcelona (HMB) joint venture, planning to deliver 4,500 affordable rental homes by 2028 using a public-private partnership. These homes are designed to achieve top energy-efficiency standards, ensuring both affordability and environmental sustainability. - Regular municipal purchases of existing homes and buildings, supported by nearly €150 million in investment since 2015, to expand the affordable housing stock and prevent speculative takeovers. Barcelona’s approach combines public investment, regulatory requirements, and innovative partnerships to combat affordability gaps and promote sustainable living.

Housing cooperatives in Barcelona, particularly using the "cessió d’ús" (use-right) model, play a growing but still minor role in addressing the city’s housing challenges. This model promotes collective management, stable tenure, affordability, and non-speculation by having cooperatives build or rehabilitate homes on municipally or privately ceded plots for long-term use, typically 75–90 years. Residents pay an initial deposit and monthly fee, but do not own the property, ensuring housing remains a social good. The sector is expanding: in recent years, the number of cooperative homes in Catalonia has doubled, with Barcelona seeing strong momentum. Sostre Cívic, a major cooperative, manages around 250 dwellings and aims to double this through substantial new investments. However, cooperative housing still represents only a very small share of the total housing stock in Barcelona—significantly less than 1%. Municipal policy increasingly supports cooperatives through partnerships, land transfers, and targeted programs. The city has created a dedicated working table on cooperative housing, forged alliances to deliver 1,000 new cooperative and social rental homes, and helps streamline approval and construction processes. Priority is given to affordability, sustainability, and social inclusion, including reserves for young people, seniors, and people with disabilities. Barcelona also aligns with broader regional initiatives to spread cooperative housing as a viable, non-speculative alternative to traditional ownership and rental.