Parc del Fòrum

This article does not cite any sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Parc del Fòrum" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (January 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

Parc del Fòrum
Ajuntament de Barcelona
Public transit access	at El Maresme – Fòrum
Website	www.parcdelforum.cat/es/

Parc del Fòrum (

History

The Parc del Fòrum hosted the Universal Forum of Cultures held in Barcelona during 2004. The event, devised by the then-mayor of the city Joan Clos, raised a strong controversy in the city due to alleged plots of urban speculation, which never came to be demonstrated. The event allowed new urban changes in the city: the entire Besós area was recovered, until then populated by old disused factories, the entire Poblenou neighborhood was regenerated and the new Diagonal Mar neighborhood was built, while it was equipped the city of new parks and spaces for the leisure of citizens. The site was designed by Elías Torres and José Antonio Martínez Lapeña, which highlights a multipurpose esplanade of 16 has culminated at one end by a large solar panel, which It became one of the emblems of the event and gives electric energy to 140 families nowadays.

The main construction was the Forum building (2000-2004), by Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron -current headquarters of the Natural Sciences Museum of Barcelona and the Forum Auditorium-, with a triangular low profile with a distribution of several interior courtyards that generate open spaces, and a rough-looking facade of indigo blue, furrowed by various strips of glass. Next to this building was the International Convention Center of Barcelona (2000-2004), by Josep Lluís Mateo, with a metal layout structure irregular and undulating shapes that hide the supporting elements, generating large open spaces of flexible arrangement inside.

Spaces

The main space consists of a huge esplanade called Plaça del Fòrum (Forum Square), designed by Torres and Lapeña. It is the site where the solar panel is located as well as some pieces of public art like "Los Pajaritos" or the "Bosc de Columnes" (Column Forest), which is mainly used for ludic events.

The Parc del Fòrum also includes:

• Parc del Camp de la Bota: located in the old neighbourhood of Campo de la Bota, it occupies the space where its castle was located. The castle was used to execute and torture people during the Francoist dictatorship (1936-1975). Nowadays it hosts a park for kids, the "column forest" as well as some pieces of public art and a monument that commemorates those who were murdered in the castle. Barcelona's Natural Science Museum is located there as well as the Auditori del Fòrum, which has a maximum capacity of 3,300 people.
• Parc dels Auditoris (Auditorium Complex): designed by Alejandro Zaera, this space hosts two public air auditoriums meant to host concerts and other types of shows.
• Plataforma Marina: originally built to host a marine zoo (but cancelled due to the financial crisis), this flat platform is used to host many shows like Cirque du Soleil's "Messi 10" show or Primavera Sound's biggest stage.
• Zona de Banys (Bathing Area): designed by Beth Galí and Jaume Benavent, it is a two-hectare non-sand artificial beach where people can go and dip in the sea. It has ladders and ramps in order to make it look like a pool and to guarantee the security of the swimmers. There is also an artificial island equipped with sun beds and parasols. Showers and locker rooms are also part of this space apart from other elements and services.

The zone closer to Sant Adrià consists of the Forum Beach, a marina, restaurants, a natural park and an active fabrique.

Use

Since the 2004 Universal Forum of Cultures, the park has hosted many events as well as worldwide known music festivals. Here are some:

• Barcelona Acció Musical: this part of the Festes de la Mercè that consists of a series of musical shows is sometimes held at the Parc del Fòrum during its annual celebration in September.
• Barcelona Beach Festival: also known as BBF, it takes place at the Forum Beach every July. It reunites the biggest artists in electronic music.

• Festival Cruïlla: the music festival moved to Barcelona in 2010, leaving Mataró.
  The Black Eyed Peas and Gwen Stefani
  among others have visited the festival.
• Nits del Fòrum: comprising 70 concerts in over two months, this concert series festival at the Auditorium Complex is set to begin in July 2020. It is organized by Primavera Sound.
• Rosalía, Bad Bunny, Arcade Fire, Massive Attack, Bon Iver and Radiohead
  have headlined the festival since its first edition in 2001.
• Reggaeton Beach Festival: this Latin music festival takes place annually in July. It reunites the biggest artists in the reggaeton genre like
  Ozuna, Daddy Yankee, Karol G, Rels B etc. Other editions take place in Benidorm, Palma and Madrid
  .
• Summercase: the festival ran from 2006 to 2008 and also visited Madrid. Primal Scream and Sex Pistols visited the festival.
• Telecogresca: the biggest music festival for university students takes place at the Parc del Fòrum since 2014. The line-up normally consists of Catalan rumba and hip hop acts.