Once the site of a metallurgical factory and then a large, empty square, the city revamped the plaza in 2017 to make the space more accessible with the incorporation of trees and other urban greenery, shaded areas, children’s games and seating areas.
In a nod to the old metallurgical factory that once stood there, a metal sculpture embraces the space and creates a visual limit to the square while serving as a support for annexed elements.
Children's Water Play Area
In June 2026 the city inaugurated a children's water play area in the plaza, along with one in Jardins de Justa Freire. These new play areas are the first spaces of this kind in the Sants-Montjuïc district.
Children can activate the jocs d'aigua (water play areas) by pressing a device that makes the water flow for between one and two minutes. The circuits work by means of a push button that prevents a new cycle of jets from being activated until the previous one has concluded, minimizing the volume of water used. The play areas are recommended for children from age five and up. Shoes are required, and pets are prohibited.
The measure is part of Barcelona City Council's commitment to doubling the number of children's areas with water games in the city, which increased from nine to eighteen in 2026. The water games will operate nonstop from 10:00 to 20:00 during the months of June to September.
The jocs d'aigua are part of the city's Heat Plan strategy to adapt the city to high temperatures and protect the most vulnerable people from rising temperatures. These spaces belong to the Barcelona Climate Shelter Network and they also form part of the Game Plan, which provides infrastructure that offers children and adolescents greater opportunity for outdoor play. These improved outdoor areas promote physical activity, emotional well being and social cohesion in the neighborhoods.
The arrival of water games in Sants-Montjuïc represents a significant change for the district, which until now did not have these facilities in children's play areas. They also help meet the need for accessible refreshment spaces for families in increasingly hot summers, especially in neighborhoods with fewer green areas and more exposed to heat waves. By 2027, five more new spaces are planned to be incorporated into the city: two in Sant Martí, two in Ciutat Vella and one in Nou Barris.
