Abaceria Market renovation in Barcelona, Spain
SOCOTEC in Spain participated in the renovation of the Abaceria Market in Barcelona, Spain, contributing to Integration Engineering, Monitoring, and Quality Assurance.
Key information:
Project name: Abaceria Market renovation in Barcelona, Spain
Date: 2023 - Present
Clients: INSTITUT MUNICIPAL DE MERCATS DE BARCELONA
Location: Barcelona, Spain
General Information:
The Abaceria Market, situated in Barcelona's historic Gràcia neighbourhood, is a landmark for both the local community and its commerce. With over a century of history, the market has long served as a hub for residents, providing fresh, high-quality products and nurturing a close bond with the area’s social and commercial life.
An extensive renovation project, with a budget of 22.5 million euros and an estimated timeline of 24 months, is set to revitalize the market and its surroundings. This project reflects the input and needs of residents and vendors who played an active role in shaping its design. The renovation aims not only to modernize the market’s infrastructure but also to create a sustainable, contemporary public space that fosters community interaction and respect for the environment.
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A Landmark Market in a Historic Neighbourhood :
Nestled between Travessera de Gràcia and the streets of Torrijos, Mare de Déu dels Desemparats, and Puigmartí, the Abaceria Market stands as a defining feature of this vibrant district. This project offers a rare chance to both preserve and modernize one of the area’s most beloved markets. Additionally, it aims to increase green spaces, creating around 1,500 m² of public space to ease congestion in this densely populated urban zone.
Plans include a new public square designed as a gathering space for residents, along with expanded green areas that harmonize with the existing urban landscape.
Project details
Service offered: Quality control on site
SOCOTEC, through its Quality Control services, oversees each project phase to ensure that all materials and construction processes meet technical standards and regulatory guidelines. For this project, specific inspections have been conducted across several critical areas:
- Anchors, micropiles, and cement injection control: Oversight of foundational elements and their proper installation, essential for the structure’s stability.
- Structural concrete and reinforced steel control: Assessment of the quality and correct application of these primary materials.
- Finishes and installations control: Final checks on cladding, flooring, façades, roofing, and safety features to ensure accurate and compliant installation of each component.
Service offered: Monitoring
Through precise, ongoing monitoring of ground and structural deformations, we ensure that excavation and construction activities do not compromise the stability of the surrounding soil or adjacent buildings.
- Monitoring of Retaining Walls and Deep Foundations: We track ground deformations during excavation, ensuring stability both in the soil and nearby structures. This control is essential to maintain safety in the surrounding areas as construction progresses.
- Structural Movement and Strain Monitoring: SOCOTEC installs specialized equipment, including inclinometers and prisms, to detect any movement in adjacent buildings. These measures help reduce risks and protect the integrity of structures near the market.
- Regular Monitoring and Manual Readings: For the highest accuracy, we perform bi-weekly manual checks on the monitoring system, confirming that deformations remain within specified safety limits and ensuring compliance with safety standards throughout each project phase.
Service offered: Engineering and Structural design
Our Structural Engineering services have been instrumental in drafting the project, designing the structure, ensuring compliance with current structural regulations, and providing technical support to the construction management team.
- Project Drafting and Structural Design
Development of a structural plan tailored to the market's unique characteristics, including the construction of three underground levels and three additional floors. To honour the building's historical significance, a replica of the original metal structure has also been designed. - Compliance with Current Structural Codes
A key challenge has been updating the market’s structural design to align with modern regulations, meeting stringent requirements of the structural code. This process involved a thorough evaluation of materials, stability, and the strength of construction elements, including pillars that support the machinery platform. - Roof MEP Design
The upper structure will feature a photovoltaic roof with alternating ceramic and solar panels, achieving an effective blend of energy efficiency and aesthetic appeal. - Technical Support for Construction Management
Overseeing project milestones and ensuring accurate execution of each structural component to meet the established timelines.
Due to its considerable size and weight, this machinery was placed on a purpose-built platform designed to support it throughout excavation, confining it to the construction zone and preventing any impact on surrounding streets. This measure was crucial, as the narrow and space-limited streets of the Gràcia neighbourhood required careful planning.
SOCOTEC has developed substantial expertise in managing large-scale, technically demanding projects like the Abaceria Market. This project presents unique challenges, as it requires the integration of modern infrastructure solutions within a historic setting.
