A new initiative in Barcelona’s Les Corts district is racing against time to capture the everyday history of its neighbourhoods, turning to the oral testimonies of its oldest residents to build a living archive of a bygone era. The project aims to preserve the daily life and memories of the area from before 1999, ensuring they are not lost to future generations.

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More than a year ago, the district council put out a call for local people to participate in a historical memory project. The goal was to safeguard what officials describe as an “ephemeral memory,” one that exists only in the minds of those who lived it. The result is an exhibition that brings the district’s recent past vividly to life through personal stories and cherished photographs.

Manuel Becerra, the Councillor for Culture in Les Corts, explained, “These experiences, stored in our memories, will be lost when we are no longer here. We want to capture this ephemeral memory in images.”

A Living Archive

From all the residents who answered the call, officials selected eight individuals to represent the community’s fabric, including long-term residents, local shopkeepers, and members of established district organisations. Through in-depth personal interviews and contributed private photographs, they have woven a rich tapestry of the district’s history.

This collection now forms the basis of the exhibition, titled ‘Memòria oral i gràfica del districte de les Corts’ (Oral and Visual Memory of the Les Corts District). The exhibition is now open to the public at the district headquarters on Plaça de Comas and runs until 20th March.

The district of Les Corts, known today as a key financial hub and home to FC Barcelona’s Camp Nou, has a deep-rooted history that predates its modern identity. Projects like this provide a vital connection to its past as a collection of distinct neighbourhoods, a side often overlooked amidst news of its contemporary challenges, such as a recent spate of armed robberies.

Voices from the Neighbourhood

The participants themselves have highlighted the profound importance of recovering the past so that new generations can understand the evolution of their home. For many, the project is not just a historical exercise but a deeply personal one.

“There are few of us lifelong residents left, and I think there will always be someone who will be interested,” lamented Montserrat Carbonell, one of the eight contributors.

Anna Ramon, who was born on Carrer de Benavent and still lives on the same street, believes such initiatives are crucial. “We must never forget where we come from, what we have lived through. Our memory may be failing, but we still have these recollections,” she asserted.

For some, the project also serves as a tribute. The Crusells siblings view their collaboration as a way to honour their parents. “Our parents were born in the neighbourhood, lived in the neighbourhood, worked in the neighbourhood, and are buried in the neighbourhood,” they explained. “We are very excited that this project is moving forward.”

A Glimpse into a Different Time

The process of looking back was an enjoyable one, according to Rafel Niubó, president of the Associació Esportiva les Corts. He told local news outlet betevé that he had a wonderful time revisiting the past. “I have been able to reconnect with people who are explaining their experience, just like mine, and it has been frankly fun,” he said. He added that it was “incredible to see how the neighbourhood has evolved by looking at the photos.”

This initiative reflects a broader effort across the city to document and preserve its social history, from tracking the complex story of urban transformations like Barcelona’s migrating footbridge to chronicling the everyday experiences that define a community. By focusing on personal stories, the Les Corts project offers a ground-level perspective on a period of significant change in Barcelona, capturing the essence of neighbourhood life before the turn of the millennium.

The exhibition provides a unique opportunity for residents, new and old, to connect with the district’s living history, told in the words of those who shaped it.