Thyssen Museum Barcelona will open its doors during the second half of 2028, according to a major announcement from Barcelona Global.
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The announcement came during an event at La Pedrera attended by approximately 200 cultural, business and institutional representatives from across the city.
However, the project faces significant controversy over plans to dramatically increase the volume of a protected building – the Palau Marcet – located at the prestigious intersection of Passeig de Gràcia and Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes. This historic building previously housed the Comèdia cinema until January 2024.
Thyssen Museum Barcelona Plans Focus on Catalan Modernisme
Joan Manuel Sevillano, director general of Stoneweg Places & Experiences, emphasised the museum’s ambition to showcase Modernisme and Noucentisme painting during the presentation. He described this artistic period as “one of the great unknowns of Catalan culture” that deserves greater recognition.
The new cultural facility will span approximately 9,000 square metres across multiple levels. Furthermore, the lower two floors will be dedicated to Catalan art from the 19th and 20th centuries, while upper spaces will host temporary exhibitions and an auditorium.
The permanent collection will feature works by renowned artists including Ramon Casas, Eliseu Meifrèn and Santiago Rusiñol. Additionally, visitors will encounter a previously unseen selection from the Carmen Thyssen collection.
This cultural development comes as Barcelona continues to establish itself as Spain’s premier cultural destination, despite ongoing challenges with affordability and urban development.
Planning Approval and Opposition
In late July, Barcelona City Council gave initial approval to the necessary Metropolitan General Plan Modification (MPGM) required for the project to proceed. The vote saw support from PSC, Junts per Barcelona, PP and Vox, while Barcelona en Comú and ERC opposed the measures.
The original heritage protection specifically safeguarded the building’s volumes and façades, but the MPGM has modified these protections. Consequently, if no further changes occur, the future museum could reach ground floor + six levels facing Passeig de Gràcia and ground floor + nine levels on the Gran Via side.
Josep Maria Boronat, president of the Architects Group for the Defence and Intervention in Architectural Heritage (AADIPA) of the College of Architects of Catalonia (COAC), expressed hope that the volume and architectural proposal would be reconsidered to ensure respect for heritage values.
The Federation of Neighbourhood Associations of Barcelona (FAVB) has formally requested the Barcelona City Council to halt the project, describing the operation as speculative and alleging numerous irregularities in the planning process.
Therefore, while the Thyssen Museum Barcelona promises to become a significant cultural attraction, its development continues to generate heated debate about heritage preservation versus urban regeneration in one of the city’s most iconic locations.
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