NON Commercial Centre
Back in 2016, we passed an amazing wall in the medieval part of Barcelona (about 40 meters from Santa Maria del Mar) and fell completely in love. It had the most incredible potential, and yet was desperate for attention.
To cut a long story short, we designed two ideas for the wall and were rejected on both occasions. We then tried a more participatory process, hoping to increase our chances with the urban planners. We engaged Catalan Children from the closest primary school, Escuela Angel Baixeras, in June 2017.
The children were only eleven years old, but the results have been amazing. The authorities were suddenly interested, and we started developing a detailed proposal for an idea called ‘The NON Commercial Centre’. Though it won’t be on the wall we originally envisioned, Ajuntament de Barcelona are exploring a new home for it. Watch this space!
The inspiration for this piece is the rising tensions between the city of Barcelona and the tourist industry. Many locals are unhappy about unruly visitors and the commercialisation of their home. Our mural imagines a surreal place where you might be able to buy the unsellable: such as tickles, happiness, dignity or devotion.
In partnership with
