The space in Can Batlló is a unique project to strengthen cooperativism and the social and solidarity economy (SSE), making them more accessible to the public. The city’s contribution of €2.5 million represents 54% of the total cost (€4.6 million), while the Generalitat’s Department of Economy and Labour will finance 28% (around €1.3 million) and the rest will be self-financed.

The space is managed by the Bloc4 Association, which brings together the city’s most important cooperativism and SSE organisations: the Confederation of Cooperatives of Catalonia, the Federation of Worker Cooperatives and the Coòpolis Association.

Bloc4BCN shares the territorial vision of the Social Economy Programme of the Generalitat de Catalunya, which aims to foster the development of a supportive ecosystem for the social and solidarity economy (SSE) in Catalonia, with the active participation of the cooperative sector.

An iconic space

The refurbishment of the Can Batlló building was completed in November 2023, with a municipal investment of €10.3 million. With 4,500 square metres, the building can host over 60 cooperativism and SSE projects related to technology and the digital sector, social care, energy, housing, mobility, culture tourism, sustainable textiles, local commerce, sustainable food and agroecology.

The facility will also have a space in Sants-Montjuïc Activa, where Barcelona Activa offers programmes to support employment and economic activity in the district, as well as advice on the social and solidarity economy (SSE) and cooperatives as part of the city’s overall strategy.