In the Sant Andreu neighbourhood, far from the tourist circuits but very much alive with Barcelona’s creative community, the Fabra i Coats complex rises from the streets in a magnificent ensemble of 19th-century industrial brick buildings. Once one of the largest thread manufacturing factories in Spain, it has been converted into one of the city’s most important centres for artistic creation and cultural production.
Industrial Heritage
The factory was founded in 1903 by the British thread company J. & P. Coats in partnership with the Fabra family, and at its height employed thousands of workers from across Barcelona and the surrounding region. The main production hall, engine houses, and administrative buildings survive largely intact, giving the complex an architectural character that is both impressive in scale and rich in historical texture. The red brick, the sawtooth roof profiles, and the tall chimney are characteristic of Catalan industrial modernisme.
The Creative Factory Today
Since its conversion, Fabra i Coats has become home to a community of artists, designers, and cultural organisations who use the former factory spaces as studios and workspaces. The complex also hosts temporary exhibitions, concerts, performances, and community events — a programme that connects the building’s working-class history with the creative present.
Getting There
Fabra i Coats is at Carrer de Sant Adrià, 20 in Sant Andreu. The nearest metro is Sant Andreu (L1). Check the Fabra i Coats website for the current exhibition and events programme before visiting. Entry to most events and exhibitions is free.