PIER 01 and Welcome Tour
On Tuesday morning we got together for our first business trip of the week. Esade was great but now we were getting more into the meat of our trip. Getting to Pier 01 was a nice trip. We had to drive through a lot of the more historical areas of the city to get out to the waterfront were the company is. Everything about this trip feels like a mystery so I was both taking in the sights and trying to mentally prepare for the day ahead. We got to a beautiful brick building that not only housed Tech City, but also stood next to the museum of Barcelona. The building was just as gorgeous inside as it was outside. I'd show you photos but they were prohibited. I sneaked a few though so your welcome.
Tech city is an association founded in 2013. It was developed by founders who were leaders in the tech industry. They like to think of themselves as a shelter as well as a support system for those companies in the tech world. You need to fulfill a bunch of qualifications to be accepted into Tech City which is good because it makes sure you only have the cream of the crop. In Pier 01 their are many companies housed who together work to create better tech. Tech City is a privately funded group which could be another reason why they are so selective. The work that comes out of this association is not only to help the economy but also to lead to the betterment of the ecosystem that is Barcelona.
One space that I really appreciated was the By Hour space and it wasn't just because of the hanging chairs. These are spaces that you can rent for 3, 6, or 12 hours at a time. It was not only effective for getting work done but also it felt like a relaxing enough space for meeting and being productive. It allows people the option of working solo or in a collaborative environment. This is a service that we see getting more and more common in societies as there are freelancers and others who may want to work somewhere more than a coffee shop, but less than a traditional office space.
To end the day we went on extensive tour of the Gothic Quarter. The more tourist centered areas were what you'd expect to see in any European city. Shops everywhere, Souvenirs that you never thought you wanted and all other "Only in (Insert city name here)" attractions. But when you go deeper into the city you see the focus change from money grabbing to just living. Stores were still around but it got more residential. Even the government of a city has to center their services of zoning around getting the most return. They allow citizens to make a lot in this area to support themselves but they also make a decent amount from the people who live there.