Ca l'Alier

Ca l'Alier is a former textile mill built in the middle of the 19th century, now transformed into Barcelona's urban innovation platform. An example of the recovery of the city's industrial heritage for new uses.

This enterprise and technological innovation centre is the headquarters of the Barcelona Institute of Technology Habitat (BIT Habitat) Foundation. Its objective is to boost urban innovation and smart technology in different areas. BIT Habitat is addressing the new challenges and demands from the community through the ethical, sustainable and responsible use of data and technology.

Ca l'Alier is one of 115 protected industrial buildings in Poblenou. Its refurbishment has respected the original building and preserved its iconic 20-metre-high chimney. The pitched roof with its smooth Catalan tiles, the wooden structure and the brick walls have been restored. Today, Ca l'Alier is a smart building that incorporates sensors and other efficient-management devices. It uses solar and photovoltaic energy, reuses waste water, monitors energy consumption and harvests rainwater. This landmark of sustainable industrial architecture also has a pneumatic waste-collection system, the best in acoustic comfort and is connected to a DHC (district heating and cooling) network.