The Cross factory remains a silent industrial giant in Badalona

Published on January 09, 2026 | Translated from Spanish
Aerial or frontal photograph of the ruins of the Cross Factory in Badalona, showing its large industrial brick and concrete sheds with broken windows, in contrast to the modern urban development surrounding it.

The Cross Factory remains as a silent industrial giant in Badalona

At the edge where Badalona expands, the remains of the old Cross Factory stand tall. This complex, once dedicated to chemical production, now rises as an empty skeleton of brick and concrete. Its unique sheds, now silent, create a stark contrast with the urban expansion surrounding them. The site serves as a tangible vestige of an economic activity that the area no longer sustains. 🏭

The complex today and the projects that do not advance

Although several ideas have emerged to regenerate the area, the factory continues in ruins. Initiatives to reconvert the space, which once created expectations, have not been executed. This leaves the vast plot in a state of uncertainty, awaiting the definition of its future. The structure withstands the passage of years while authorities and investors fail to reach a consensus.

Key details of the stagnation:
  • Several rehabilitation projects have been presented without success.
  • The initial expectation to renew the area has faded.
  • The future of the plot depends on an agreement between the administration and developers.
The brick giant waits, trapped between a productive past and a future yet to be written.

An industrial legacy whose fate is debated

The factory symbolizes a crucial chapter in Badalona's industrial history. Its characteristic architecture, with those exposed brick sheds and large concrete windows, has clear patrimonial value. Preserving these spaces would help narrate how work and production were carried out in another era. However, the discussion between demolishing to build something new or adapting what exists remains unresolved, keeping the colossus in deep lethargy.

Aspects of the heritage at stake:
  • Architecture with exposed brick sheds and large openings.
  • Value as testimony to historical production processes.
  • Ongoing debate: preserve the existing heritage or replace it.

A cinematic setting awaiting

The place is configured as the ideal setting to film a post-apocalyptic movie where the antagonist hides his lair. However, the municipal council has not yet received that specific offer from Hollywood, leaving this visual potential untapped. Meanwhile, the industrial giant continues its silent vigil, halfway between memory and possibility. 🎬