Barcelona has unveiled newly renovated public gardens in the Les Corts district, in a project financed almost entirely by the L’Illa Diagonal shopping centre. The redevelopment of the Sant Joan de Déu gardens, costing €3.8 million, was largely covered by the commercial complex, with the city council contributing an additional €180,000 for oversight and safety.
The arrangement, described by mayor Jaume Collboni as a ‘new way of winning public space’, represents a growing trend of public-private partnerships in the capital. Similar initiatives have already reshaped the nearby Clara Campoamor gardens, co-financed by real estate firms Colonial and Merlin Properties.
At the inauguration, Collboni praised the role of private companies in enhancing community life. ‘These gardens are now at the service of children, families and neighbours,’ he said, highlighting how the redevelopment fosters biodiversity and creates new meeting spaces.
The project preserves much of the original layout while introducing inclusive play areas, picnic zones, and multipurpose seating. Efforts were made to protect mature trees, while new plantings were chosen to enrich biodiversity and ensure a balance with the striking new umbracle structure at L’Illa Diagonal.
For Les Corts, the initiative marks not only a fresh green space but also a precedent for how corporate funding can be channelled to deliver tangible benefits for the city.
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