From 1700 to 1850, Barcelona grew from a small town of 34,000 residents to a bustling city of 160,000. Steam powered textile mills and chintz printers pulled thousands of new citizens into the increasingly tight quarters of Barcelona’s medieval city walls. Living conditions were appalling for all.

Ildefons Cerdá, a civil engineer, measured life expectancy for Barcelona’s poor at under 20 years and only 38 for the wealthy. This led to an outcry to take down the old battlements and expand the city.

When the walls finished falling in 1859, Cerdá had a plan - a modern city grid divided into blocks. Each neighborhood would have wide streets for carriages and new electric trams, common areas for all to gather, limits on building sizes and heights, and essential services in each area allowing easy and equal access for all. Sadly, Cerdá died before his full dream for Barcelona could be implemented.

BUT that is where you come in. You and your fellow players are builders of this new Barcelona. Each new intersection in the city grid adds many layers of possibilities and actions. How will you attract new citizens to the area? New streets? New tram lines? New city services? How and where will you build each new block? And with Cerdá gone, will you stay true to his vision? Avante garde modernist architecture like the incredible La Sagrada Familia cathedral might have a place in this new Barcelona with your help. Your decisions will shape the future of Europe’s first truly urbanized city.

ALSO FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE

Paco Garcia from GMS Magazine and So Play We All provides two delectable recipes popular in Barcelona for our cooking segment, The Meal.

Bruce Voge stops by to tell us about one of his favorite games: Unmatched!

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Barcelona