Eduardo González
Casa Asia, the public diplomacy institution responsible for promoting international relations between Asia, the Pacific, and Spain in the economic, cultural, and educational spheres, will permanently relocate this year to the Pedralbes Palace in Barcelona, after a turbulent history that has taken it to four different locations since its founding in 2001.
This was announced on Friday by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, during the presentation of the new Spanish Strategy for Asia and the Pacific 2026-2029 to the Asian ambassadors accredited to Spain, which took place at Casa Asia’s current temporary headquarters in Barcelona.
“This year, 2026, will be very important for Casa Asia, because this is the year in which it will finally move to its natural home, which will be the Pedralbes Palace in Barcelona,” Albares announced during the event. “With a surface area of almost 2,000 square meters, the new headquarters, along with the one in Madrid, will offer a representative and stimulating setting for our diplomatic efforts toward Asia and the Pacific from one of the most cosmopolitan and representative cities not only in Spain, but in Europe, namely Barcelona,” he added.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs holds the rotating presidency of Casa Asia this year, whose Governing Council is made up of the Ministry, the Government of Catalonia, and the city councils of Barcelona and Madrid.
Since its founding in 2001, Casa Asia has had four different headquarters in Barcelona (in addition to a branch in Madrid). Between 2003 and 2013, it was located in the Palau del Baró de Quadras, but the high rent demanded by the real estate company Alting forced it to relocate to the historic grounds of the Hospital de Sant Pau i la Santa Creu. Casa Asia was located in this second venue between 2013 and 2018, when it was evicted for non-payment of rent.
Between 2018 and 2023, it was housed in the building of the National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC) in Barcelona, and since 2023, Casa Asia has been located in the former Chapel of the Orphanage (Capella dels Infants Orfes).
However, the Barcelona City Council’s provision of this space is temporary, as the institution plans to move to its new official headquarters, the Pedralbes Palace. The move was pending the completion of the renovation work on the two pavilions that will house Casa Asia, according to the institution itself. The renovation project is being financed with the help of European Next Generation funds. The Pedralbes Palace also currently houses the secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM).
