The Eixample district is the heart of Barcelona because of its geographic location and for being the most important business, economical and shopping district of the city.
The name Eixample (or Ensanche, in Catalan) means “extension” and this is the reason why the area was born, when the city needed to expand during the XIX Century and the Industrial Revolution.
The original project by the architect Ildefonso Cerda was that of a garden city, with wide open spaces, buildings of maximum three floors very distant from each other, and no social class difference as all streets were supposed to look the same.
This initial project was criticized by the bourgeoisie and was subjected to several changes.
The main character of the Eixample is its regular geometrical shape clearly visible on bird view pictures of the city.
The Eixample includes 6 quarters: Eixample Izquierda (split into Antigua Izquierda and Nueva Izquierda), Eixample Dreta (o Derecha), Sagrada Familia, Fort Pienc, and Sant Antoni.
The areas were progressively built as the city grew, and differ a lot from each other,
The part of the Eixample that goes from Calle Aribau to Paseo Sant Joan is also referred to as the Golden Square, and it contains the greatest amount of modernist buildings of the city of Barcelona.
Antigua Izquierda Eixample
The left part of the Eixample is split into Antigua Izquierda Eixample and Nueva Izquierda Eixample. The name is self-explanatory: the Antigua Izquierda (Old Left part) was built before the Nueva (New).
The Antigua Izquierda Eixample goes from Calle Balmes to Calle Urgell. Its original core included the Sant Josep Oriol church and the University of Barcelona (in Plaza Universitat), heritage listed building erected in 1882.
From the original core, the area developed with the construction of the Hospital Clinic and the Ninot market, and when the new middle class started to move here in the Thirties.
Today the Antigua Izquierda Eixample is a very lively area, full of commercial activities (many offices are located here), amenities such as bars, cafes and restaurants, and a wide range of shops. Contrarily to the old city centre, in this area it is easier to find proximity shops as the block is more residential and less tourist-orientated.
The area limited by Calle Balmes, Urgell, Gran Via and Arago, has developed as the preferred area by the gay community of Barcelona and it is now referred to as the Gaixample. It offers plenty of shops, boutiques, and clubs attended by the gay community. In this area, in 2003, it opened the first gay heterofriendly hotel in world.
Transport links in the Antigua Izquierda Eixample are excellent, with several underground stops, and buses.
The Properties in the Antigua Izquierda Eixample
Properties in this area are less expensive than in Eixample Dreta, but they are still more expensive than in many other areas of Barcelona.
The area offers a mix of classic early XX Century buildings, and more modern blocks. Property prices become less expensive as we move farther away from Calle Balmes, and to more modern buildings.
Properties in this area are usually good quality, buildings are often already renovated, with lift, and – especially in older buildings – feature beautiful and elegant entrances.
Barcelona takes very good care of its heritage and by law each single building has to undergo regular technical inspections. Several of the buildings are listed as part of the patrimony of the city.
Flats in which the original style has been preserved are in great demand by international investors eager to acquire a real Modernist property in the centre of the city.
This type of property is becoming harder and harder to find and once it is renovated with a mix of modern comfort and original Modernist style, it becomes a real jewel, extremely valuable because of its location and its unique character.
We can help you assess the quality of a property and take care of the renovation, in full respect of the regulations and the care required by this type of properties.
Typical features of the Modernist style include hydraulic floors, decorated ceilings, and doors with colourful crystal panels.
Properties in the Antigua Izquierda Eixample represent a very good investment. First of all, it is an area where it is possible to find flats with unique historical features. Secondly, it is a very good area to live in if you are planning to move to Barcelona, due to its central location and its availability of shops and services.
Thirdly, if you are planning a buy-to-let investment, it is one of the best areas to invest in as there is a very high demand for flats in this area, especially by students of the local universities and professionals attracted by the central location and the prestige of the barrio.
Prices in the Eixample
The average price per m2 in the district of the Eixample has remained stable over the past year (source Habitaclia, October 2019).
The current price per m2 of 5.577,07 € is the average of the prices in all the areas of the district, which includes lower prices in the Sagrada Familia, Sant Antoni and Fort Pienc areas, and higher prices in the other areas.
Prices per m2 in Antigua Izquierda Eixample vary a lot. They are higher in the lowest part of the area (below the Avenida Roma and Calle Arago) and in the older classic buildings, especially when they are listed as part of the heritage of the city.
However, while penthouses can reach a price per m2 of 9,000 – 10,000€ / m2, properties in the most important areas of the quarter (such as Plaza Universitat) can be found at a more “modest” price of around 6,000€ / m2, especially if they need some refurbishment. Beautifully renovated properties can be found at an average price of around 5,500€ to 6.500€/ m2.
Prices in the higher part of the Antigua Izquierda Eixample may not reach the peaks of the streets in the lower section of the area, but nicely renovated properties may amount to an average of 5,000€ / m2 or more, depending on the street and the type of building.
Unlike in areas like the Borne or Vila de Gracia, there is a larger offer for properties in this area.
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