El Raval (Field Trip)

            El Raval is a neighborhood located right off of La Rambla.  El Raval used to be one of the worst slums in Europe.  It was home to drugs, poverty, prostitution and homeless people.  Very narrow streets create dark alleys and give some parts of the neighborhood a slum-like feel.  In the past, the quality of life in el Raval was very low.  Until the Barcelona Model was introduced as a means to rid the city of its slums and increase quality of life for all of it’s citizens. 

            The Barcelona Model aimed to create social infrastructure.  To do this, they created open public spaces, new appealing architecture, and trendy public sculptures.  Examples of this can be seen taking a stroll through the neighborhood.  Palau Guell, a work done by Guadi has been reserved and is cleaned regularly to give it a fresh look.  El Gat del Raval is a sculpture of a cat that is located in the center of a wide walking street in the center of the neighborhood.  MACBA and CCBA are examples of buildings constructed to give the area more culture.  A modern looking aluminum building serves as appealing architecture.  A hospital was built to take care of the sick, and la Biblioteca Nacional de Catalunya serves as an opportunity for learning. 

            The Barcelona Model did have some cons to its many pros.  The biggest effect was gentrification.  This happens when wealthier people move into a formerly poor area that has gone under reformation, and as a result, the poor people that formerly lived there are displaced.  Poverty can still be seen in el Raval.  This obvious when locals of the neighborhood spray paint buildings with messages explaining not everything is good prosperous.  Poverty and perhaps drug use also displayed themselves when a fight broke out on our field trip.  Both men looked like drug abusers and one had some sort of cast on probably a broken hand.  Entertaining at first, but a sad display of poverty in El Raval.