The City Council of Alcalá de Henares, in the Autonomous Community of Madrid, has presented the largest urban project in decades. A new district called “Roca City” will be built on the site of the former Roca factory.
History of the Former Roca Factory Site
In the early 1960s, the company Roca built a large complex here, consisting of a big porcelain production workshop, repair shops, and a number of separate smaller buildings intended for manufacturing bathtubs and radiators. The complex covers an area of about 208 500 m2 and is located in close proximity to the historic city center, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
What the “Roca City” Project Includes
The project’s master plan, which is still at a very early stage, includes:
- transforming this obsolete factory into an “eco-district” with 2500-3000 residential units, at least 20% of which will be social housing;
- creating extensive pedestrian zones, new recreation areas, a retail zone, and a 400-space parking facility aimed at improving access and mobility in the city center;
- In addition, the development of more than 80 000 m2 of green areas and a multifunctional building for congresses, exhibitions, cultural and business events is planned.
How Alcalá de Henares Will Change
The project will connect neighborhoods, improve pedestrian mobility, increase the ecological and cultural value of the area, and strengthen Alcalá de Henares’ position as a university city and a venue for cultural and tourist events. The “eco-district” design prioritizes pedestrians, and the buildings are designed with a gradual increase in height as they move away from the historic city center to achieve better visual and landscape integration.
Context and a Similar Project in Catalonia
The urban transformation project for this area, which had been neglected for years, began to take shape in 2023. Ultimately, this is a new concept of urban development aligned with European models that prioritize functionality, inclusiveness, ecological restoration, and adaptation to people’s needs.
It is assumed that the Roca group will handle development and property sales in accordance with a project announced a few months ago in Barcelona: the development of a new district located between Gavà and Viladecans on plots totaling 32 hectares. The complex, known as “Roca City Gavà Viladecans”, will include workspaces, 2700 residential units (40% of them social housing), and a large urban park, with a total cost of about 250 million euros.
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