It will provoke a reaction similar to the arrival of the spacecraft in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Barcelona's inhabitants are likely to be gobsmacked by a flying saucer hovering over the bullring on Placa d' Espanya, itself prominently sited along a main road into the city centre. In reality, the alien structure will be an events space, the apogee of the redevelopment of a bullring that has stood empty for over 15 years. Richard Rogers Partnership and Barcelona architect Alonso i Balaguer were appointed in 2000 by local developer Sacresa to conceive a scheme for the site. Enabling works are already under way, tender drawings of the structure by Expedition Engineering and Spanish engineer Obiol Maya y Asociados are being completed, and the project is scheduled to finish in late 2006. When open, the bullring will no longer be used for bloodthirsty entertainment, but will be home to a more humane mix of retail and leisure facilities, ranged over five levels and occupying 45,000sq m.
