The scarce new housing in Barcelona costs from 273,000 euros to 20 million and is evolving with open kitchens and swimming pools.

New trends in construction in Barcelona are leaning towards larger homes, bigger rooms, and common areas designed for leisure. In 2024, the average price of new-build apartments in the city stood at €689,000, with an average size of 83 m². The debate surrounding the regulation that requires 30% of new developments to be allocated to affordable housing is close to being left behind with the end of the current mandate.

The prices of brand-new apartments vary enormously depending on the area: from €273,000 for a 61 m² two-bedroom flat in Trinitat Vella, to as much as €20 million for luxury villas in Pedralbes with 901 m². The supply of new-build housing in Barcelona remains limited, with around 85 developments currently on sale, a figure similar to that of smaller cities like Zaragoza. These projects are spread across almost all districts and cover different price ranges.

Among the strongest trends are integrated kitchens connected to the living room, en-suite bathrooms for main bedrooms, and larger bedrooms with outdoor access compared to previous years. Whenever urban planning allows, developers include community leisure areas such as gardens or gyms.

In central Barcelona, prices rarely drop below €400,000 and are usually limited to one-bedroom apartments. For three-bedroom homes, prices easily exceed €700,000 in the Eixample and can reach €1 million, especially on upper floors and in exclusive buildings. Sant Martí leads the supply of new housing with at least 17 developments, followed by Eixample and Sants-Montjuïc. For lower prices, buyers must look to peripheral neighborhoods such as Horta-Guinardó, Sant Andreu, or Marina del Prat Vermell, where there are options around €300,000.

According to the Associació de Promotors de Catalunya (APCE), the most common new-build apartments in Barcelona in 2024 measured 83 m² and had two bedrooms, although three-bedroom options were also significant. Throughout the year, there were up to 175 developments with more than 3,200 homes. Horta-Guinardó has consolidated itself as one of the districts with the most activity in the sector.

Currently, demand for housing far exceeds supply. In 2023, the number of homes started fell by more than 10%, largely due to the municipal requirement to reserve 30% of new construction or renovation projects for affordable housing. APCE president Xavier Vilajoana considers this regulation to be the main reason for the limited real estate development. Although Barcelona has little free land, there are many possibilities for renovating or replacing older buildings.

New homes in Barcelona, especially in districts like Eixample and Ciutat Vella, are often the result of full refurbishments with redesigned layouts and new installations. These accounted for a third of all new-build supply last year. Developers now prioritize acoustic and thermal insulation and seek improvements in energy efficiency, in addition to incorporating sustainable climate-control systems such as aerothermal heating, while traditional gas heating is losing relevance.

The current supply shows how interior design seeks to optimize every usable square meter: hallways and partitions are minimized, open kitchens are integrated, and modular spaces with movable panels are increasingly common. This trend responds to the rise of single-person households and small families who still value having a second room for guests or remote work. In fact, only one in ten new homes is a one-bedroom unit. The open concept not only allows for shared spaces while cooking, but also creates a sense of a larger home.

The architectural firm Peris Toral Arquitectes highlights the trend toward homes without hierarchies between rooms: all of similar size and without hallways, with the kitchen designed as the central hub instead of the traditional living-dining area.

Off-plan sales remain common in Barcelona, allowing buyers to modify certain layout details or choose finishes from different options. In terms of decoration, light-colored floors, microcement, and minimalist-style tiles imitating stone, wood, or marble dominate.

Developers also emphasize the importance of shared spaces to attract buyers, although their configuration depends on urban planning rules and building size. In developing neighborhoods such as Marina del Prat Vermell or La Sagrera, it is easier to find buildings with gardens and swimming pools because of greater land availability and a higher number of units. However, even in the Eixample there are proposals with community oases: gardens, gyms, terraces, bike parking, and wine cellars within the same property.

Rooftop pools are becoming increasingly common in neighborhoods such as El Coll (Gràcia), La Marina del Port, Guinardó, and even in central locations like Pelai Street, adapting to all tastes and budgets.