Granite sand in poor condition will be replaced and layers of gravel added. In terms of greenery, vegetation will be improved to recover the original species from Forestier’s project. Parterre kerbs will also be replaced to align levels, the automatic watering system improved and some tree beds eliminated to maintain the original design of the square.

Work will be done in four stages and is due to finish in June 2021. The idea is to minimise disruptions to parking, meaning the service lane will be affected as work progresses. All the stages of the work and the disruptions caused will be communicated to and coordinated with the Parliament of Catalonia, the Mossos d’Esquadra police corps and the Institut Verdaguer.

A zero-waste strategy will also be applied so that all waste generated during the process is reintegrated into the rest of the park.

The Parc de la Ciutadella has been listed as a historical garden and a historical artistic monument since 1951. The Plaça d’Armes is the most iconic part and faithfully reflects the original garden project by Jean-Claude Nicolas Forestier. The rectangular layout has an oval pond in the middle, surrounded by small trees and bushes. Josep Llimona’s sculpture Desconsol is in the centre of the pond.