Barcelona City Council has ordered a comprehensive structural review of eight municipal cemeteries. This Barcelona cemeteries inspection programme addresses concerns regarding their stability and maintenance. The initiative, led by the public management company Cementiris de Barcelona (CBSA), aims to identify risks of collapse in facilities that are over a century old.
The move follows persistent criticism regarding the upkeep of these sites. These locations hold significant historical and architectural value for the city. Therefore, this new inspection programme represents a proactive effort to secure the safety of both visitors and the heritage structures themselves.
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Preventing structural collapse
CBSA has launched a tender to continue a structural monitoring service. This service, technically known as ‘auscultation’, was initially piloted at Montjuïc cemetery in 2018. The estimated value of the new contract is €641,545 (excluding VAT). It spans a three-year period with potential extensions.
According to tender documents, the primary goal is to detect “any sign of adverse conditions or instabilities” before they escalate. “The funeral constructions are very old, which is why it is necessary to control their structural state and be informed well in advance in case any could lead to a total collapse of the structure,” the CBSA report states.
The contract covers advanced measurement systems and systematic inspection protocols. These are designed to provide quantifiable data on how the masonry and foundations are behaving over time.
Historic sites under review
The Barcelona cemeteries inspection order applies to eight specific locations. Most of these have stood for more than 100 years. These include:
- Les Corts
- Poblenou (the city’s oldest, built in 1819)
- Sants
- Sant Andreu
- Sarrià
- Sant Gervasi
- Horta
- Collserola
CBSA noted that these facilities are undergoing a natural “ageing process with degradation of their structures.” Consequently, constant supervision is necessary to ensure they remain safe for public access.
The challenge of Collserola
While most of the sites are historic urban graveyards, the Collserola cemetery presents a unique logistical challenge. Inaugurated in 1972, it is the largest in Catalonia. It spans 170 hectares with over 88,000 graves.
Despite being younger than its counterparts, Collserola has faced severe maintenance issues. The tender documentation highlights that none of the funeral constructions scheduled for monitoring have an electrical supply. Meanwhile, mobile phone coverage is described as “precarious” across most sites. This is particularly problematic in Collserola.
The site is also subject to aggressive environmental conditions. These include heavy fog and rapid temperature fluctuations. These issues are sometimes compounded by recent severe weather impacting Collserola. In recent years, visitors have described the state of Collserola as “desolate.” They cited cracked walls and unchecked vegetation growth overtaking columbaria.
Interested parties have until 20 February to submit bids for the contract. This step is seen as critical in preserving Barcelona’s funerary heritage.
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