The proposal L’Avantsala de la Fira, by Bjarke Ingels Group and MiAS Arquitects, the firm founded by Josep Miàs, has won the competition to renovate the Palau del Vestit, which will house the Fira de Barcelona Innovation Hub. This future innovation centre will extend over three floors and will feature a Z-shaped design, surrounded by green spaces accessible to the public. In addition, the current facade on Plaça Espanya will be transformed into a portico, serving as the entrance to the gardens.

The new installation will merge the original work of Josep Puig i Cadafalch and Josep Maria Jujol with modern structures that will include flexible and connected workspaces, meeting rooms, an auditorium with capacity for more than 200 people and a facade on Gran Vía.

This project is part of the first phase of the transformation of the Montjuïc exhibition venue, set to begin in early 2026 and conclude in 2029. The construction, with a total estimated investment of €255 million, coincides with the centenary of the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition.

In a second phase, planned for 2029–2035, a new architectural competition will be launched for the executive project to renovate the Palau de les Comunicacions and the Palau de la Metal·lúrgia. The objective is to ensure the continuity of exhibition activities at the venue throughout the transformation process.

Josep Miàs, an architect who graduated from the Barcelona School of Architecture (ETSAB), has an outstanding career in both professional practice and academia. He is currently professor of Architectural Practice at The Bartlett School of Architecture and was named an AIA Honorary Fellow in 2024 by the American Institute of Architects, in recognition of his contribution to global architecture. At UIC Barcelona School of Architecture, Miàs supervises final bachelor’s degree projects.