Barcelona is one of the most uniquely beautiful cities, not only in Europe but in the whole world. It is located on the Mediterranean Sea and has a lot of amazing beaches and a balmy sunny weather. The city reflects a quintessential old world charm along with the more modern approach to urban development. There is an array of preserved historic areas and also the contemporary skyscrapers which dot the city skyline.

Barcelona is considered a prototype of a European city which has undergone a process of evolution and has progressed through the various stages of development. Many factors have contributed to the changes in the structure of the city like the density of population, compactness of an area and the ever growing demand for housing and commercial facilities.

Some of the major events like the World Exhibition in 1888, the Electrical Industries Exhibition in 1929 and the Olympics Games in 1992 have also played a major role in giving the city a form that can be seen today. The industrial rise and the growth is also a major factor which influences the demand for real estate in the city.

The city has transformed itself post-industrialization by taking up development works by using the mega-events, cultural networks and tourism as a stepping stone for change. At the same time it has ensured a greater awareness of the local heritage and identity, environment and issues of sustainability.

The housing development history of Barcelona can be time-lined and presented in the following manner:

1753: The city of Barcelona is the historic seafront city which has many of the houses located near the beaches as part of a major urban redevelopment in 1753. But in the ensuing years, the population increased leading to the decline of the neighborhood. The size and the shape of the houses also underwent change. The large houses were divided into rough quarters called Quarts de casa and apartments of 25-30 square meters were created.

1900: Industrialization brought about a change in the people's perception about the type of housing in the city. On the one hand it brought immense wealth and on the other it also created a lot of congested living conditions. In the 1900s, the well known industrialist and politician Eusebi Guell presented a piece of land to Barcelona with the specific insistence on Antoni Gaudi to be the chief architect and build whatever he wanted to.

Parc Guell was originally planned to be a housing project for private luxury estates with 60 houses set in a formal pattern along with the gardens which was never materialized.

Experimental architecture has always played a major role in the urban development of the city. The historic structures of Barcelona have been renovated to create new institutions and have been thus preserved for posterity.

1992: The Barcelona Olympics brought about a great change in the face of the city. New streets, beaches, parks, venue for games and promenades were built. This gave the city a connection to the sea which was lacking otherwise. The National Highway was made underground and the marina was created which gave a direst approach to the visitors on the Ramblas.

The Summer Olympics of 1992 have been a turning point in the history of the urban development of the city. Now there are many more spaces for both the domestic and the international travelers. They have a choice of hotels, hostels, apartments as well as holiday accommodations.