22@bcn Plan: bringing Barcelona forward in the information era

Abstract

Barcelona has been internationally recognized for its exemplary urban regeneration policy since the Olympic Games of 1992. By that time, the so-called “Barcelona Model” was not only about urban planning and new economic strategies, but about urban culture and social participation as well. After a period of stagnation, the new orientation of the municipal policy points to a more entrepreneurial logic. The growing role of private initiatives and the inclusion of information and communication technology in local policies are questions that affect the definition and shape of the new city, as well as the theory and practice of its governance. The “22@bcn Plan” is one of the highlights of Barcelona’s change into a “city of knowledge”. This chapter asks whether and how this specific plan challenges the well-known Barcelona Model.