Barcelona’s ambitious plan to modernise its ageing housing stock has secured a major international accolade, winning a one-million-dollar prize in the 2025-2026 Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge. Barcelona earned recognition for its innovative ‘Renovation as a Service’ (RaaS) project, designed to streamline and accelerate the process of upgrading residential buildings.
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The Catalan capital was one of only 24 cities worldwide selected from a highly competitive field of over 630 applicants. The Mayors Challenge, now in its sixth edition, is a prestigious competition organised by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the foundation established by American businessman and former New York City mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. It aims to foster innovation in local government and support ideas that can improve urban life on a large scale.
In addition to the $1 million in funding (approximately €850,000), Barcelona will receive expert operational support and additional financing for staff to help implement and expand the RaaS initiative over the coming months.
Introducing ‘Renovation as a Service’
At the heart of Barcelona’s winning proposal is the ‘Renovation as a Service’ project, a hybrid online and in-person service designed to act as a proactive facilitator for homeowners. The core objective is to transform the city’s obsolete and inefficient housing into healthy, modern, and energy-efficient homes.
The city administration aims to remove the bureaucratic and logistical hurdles that often delay or derail essential building upgrades. The project’s central tool will be the ‘Re-Habita’ digital platform, conceived as a one-stop shop for residents’ associations and homeowners. A statement from the Ajuntament de Barcelona confirms the platform will provide access to technical information about buildings, cost estimates for potential renovations, available financing options, and all necessary documentation for administrative procedures.
To enhance user experience, the service will also feature an interactive chatbot for instant queries and a system for residents to track the progress of their applications, ensuring they remain informed at every stage.
A Proactive Stance on Housing
Mayor Jaume Collboni celebrated the award, framing it as a key part of the city’s broader strategy to protect and improve living conditions for its residents. The win comes as the city council continues to tackle housing challenges on multiple fronts, including a recent court victory that upheld its 30% affordable housing mandate for new developments.
“We continue to work in the right direction to guarantee the right to stay in the city,” Mayor Collboni stated. “This recognition will help us to continue defending the right to housing, being proactive in the rehabilitation and improvement of homes in all neighbourhoods.”
The RaaS project acknowledges that not all residents are comfortable with digital tools. To address the digital divide, especially among older citizens, in-person support at the city’s dedicated Rehabilitation Offices will supplement the programme.
Projected Impact and Next Steps
The City Council has set clear targets for the project’s pilot phase. Over the first two years, officials project that RaaS will significantly improve the housing conditions for more than 9,000 residents. Furthermore, it aims to reduce the time required for residents’ associations to reach renovation agreements by 40%, a significant acceleration that could unlock many stalled projects.
The implementation will be a collaborative effort, co-led by the urban innovation agency Fundació Bit Habitat, the Municipal Institute for Housing and Rehabilitation (IMHAB), and Barcelona Innovació i Tecnologia (BIT). 20 Minutos reports that work on implementing the pilot scheme is set to begin in the coming weeks and months, as the city is now equipped with the resources to bring its award-winning idea to life.
