Award-winning international student housing platform – aparto – opens the doors of aparto Barcelona Pallars, its first student accommodation scheme in Spain. aparto is fully owned by Hines, the global real estate investment, development and property manager.
aparto Barcelona Pallars is owned by Commerz Real, a subsidiary of German bank Commerzbank, who acquired the scheme from Hines and Henderson Park in March 2021. aparto Barcelona Pallars is located in 22@ – the innovation district which is conveniently connected to the rest of the city. Designed by the architectonical firm Batlle i Roig, a pioneer in landscape architecture, the scheme includes 743 student beds – a mix of ensuite, twin, and studio options.
With a total area of 26,000 sqm, the development includes a variety of cutting-edge facilities – including over 3,000 sqm of outdoor facilities providing an infinity pool over 40 metres long, rooftop terrace, a garden with a variety of plants that attract butterflies, and two gardens with a mixture of aromatic plants, basketball and football courts, and an amphitheater that can be used for presentations, concerts or movie nights.
Internally, aparto Barcelona Pallars features 2,000 sqm of communal spaces. Amenities include a gym with the latest Technogym equipment, yoga studios, a performing arts theatre, cinema room, study rooms, game areas and a bar offering both food and drink services. Students will also benefit from a wide range of services including fast Wi-Fi, housekeeping services and linen change.
aparto offers medium- and long-term stays – from a few months to a year where residents feel at home while living in a tight-knit community. The focus on physical and mental wellbeing is a core feature at aparto, which includes a first-class experience program with sports and wellness classes, cocktail and cooking sessions, and a series of entertainment evenings including movie nights, sports matches, and tournaments including table tennis, soccer or basketball.
aparto Barcelona Pallars has been built according to the highest environmental, sustainability and energy efficiency international standards. The scheme intends to pursue the Platinum LEED and WELL Gold certifications as part of its ongoing commitment to ESG.
“With this opening, aparto Barcelona Pallars will provide students with first-class accommodation in terms of facilities and services, focused on their safety and wellbeing, reflecting the demands of students who want to continue their university degrees and Masters in the city. Hines aims to fulfil the interest in beds available for rent in Barcelona, which currently cannot meet the demand, with 186,000 students for just 22,000 available beds.”
Vanessa Gelado, Senior Managing Director and Country Head of Hines Spain
aparto has a long track-record in the management of student housing across Europe. With this new opening, aparto is active in four countries – Ireland, Italy, Spain and the UK, spanning 16 operational assets in 11 European towns and cities, and arrives in Barcelona marking its growth ambition in Spain.
