Once a dilapidated industrial ghost-town, the district of Poble Nou is getting the kind of make-over its neighbour Vila Olímpica received for the Olympics. This ambitious scheme of regeneration is referred to as 22@Barcelona (www.22barcelona.com). It aims to provide new housing, business and technical facilities to lure innovative companies and foreign investment. Its showpiece, the Jean Nouvel-designed Torre Agbar tower (often known locally as el supositori, see picture below left) was finished in 2004, but there is still a lot left to do in the rest of district. Since the project was approved in 2000, 300 firms have been drawn in and many more are expected to follow. It is hoped the development will eventually create over 130,000 jobs and increase Poble Nou’s current 4% share in economic production to over 15%. It sounds rather optimistic, but then, so did plans for the Olympics.