The last one, which stands in my neighbourhood, is the magnificent Hotel Vela that some countries, such as Dubai, have so blatantly plagiarised from us, according to our “Catalan” genius of architecture and design, Ricardo Bofill.

There is a black legend that in primary school Ricardito was expelled from class in some F.E.N. exams for cheating.  But the truth is that Bofill finished his degree – and I don’t mean as a cheater – with good marks

Iconophiles and iconoclasts live in constant confrontation, due, on the one hand, to the fact that nobody knows what parameters are used by the institutions to award these monumental works of art, which raise and surely enrich the former and ostracise the latter. What is clear to us, ordinary citizens, is that the price we pay is not only economic; these new icons have made others disappear which, without being so tall, served to give personality to our city and, incidentally, to serve citizens from all walks of life – unlike the new ones.

I am referring to the Porta Coeli, that restaurant whose demolition was carried out without a notification, but with malice aforethought, and in the strictest secrecy. The building threatened to collapse, it is true, partly because of the neglect it suffered during the last ten years of its existence. Just like the Rompeolas, which was amputated from the Barceloneta neighbourhood, before the passivity and resignation of the neighbours, who have become accustomed to accepting fate as an everyday occurrence.

The Porta Coeli was a stopover for all those couples who, after giving free rein to all their passions in their vehicles, came free of “dust and chaff” to recover their strength with some calamari a la romana, or some mussels a la marinera, which were the typical dishes of that sanctuary which, next to the lighthouse, marked the entrance to our port.

At the other end of the Rompeolas there is another small icon: the Rocamar. Famous for its paellas. Nobody knew when or how; it was simply gone one fine day.

I am sure that this sail-shaped building, an original design by Ricardo Bofill – I have no doubt – will provide the citizens of Barcelona with a service that will make us not miss the previous ones and that over the years we will even feel proud of it.

Although without partners, passions, squid and mussels, it will be difficult.

Vicens Forner