Madrid is a city where, due to its enormous size and cultural diversity, buildings have emerged that stand out for being authentic architectural jewels. Some of the selected buildings generated controversy at the time of their construction, but today they have become emblematic buildings of the city.
1. Torres Blancas
1. Torres Blancas
Avenida de América 37, c / v c Corazón de María 2 c / v, c Padre Xifré. Madrid Spain.
Torres Blancas, probably the most iconic building of the architect Saénz de Oíza, is located northeast of the city of Madrid, on Avenida de América. The building reaches 71 meters in height, distributed over 23 floors. Of that total, 21 are dedicated to housing and the last two to "social nucleus." The project was inaugurated in 1969 and represents the great architectural style that is brutalism, which is based on geometric shapes and the use of concrete as the main material in the project.
The project idea around Torres Blancas consisted of building a tower of garden houses with large terraces. In this way, it was intended to make the idea of a high-rise house compatible with the garden house.
Calle Pintor El Greco 4, Madrid, Spain.
In 1961 a competition was called where the participants were proposed as a compulsory subject to project a National Center for Restorations. Fernando Higueras appeared in the contest, in collaboration with a recent graduate who worked in his studio named Rafael Moneo.
In 1965, Higueras and Miró presented a project that maintained the circular structure, although it replaced the staggered constructions with a building with a 40-meter radius, consisting of a basement and four floors, and divided into 30 segments that were doubled when reaching the outer corridor.
The Hydrographic Studies Center is a building designed by Miguel Fisac in 1963, an example of experimentation with exposed concrete, located on the banks of the Manzanares River.
The commission required the design of a new building to house two previously separate agencies, the Center for Hydrographic Studies and the Hydraulic Laboratory. The model shed is the most interesting, wherefrom its famous "bone beams", named by Fisac himself because of their similarity to the bone structures of animals, it manages to save 22 meters of the ship to introduce the necessary indirect natural light to carry out the tests and evacuation of the water from the roof.
The commission required the design of a new building to house two previously separate agencies, the Center for Hydrographic Studies and the Hydraulic Laboratory. The model shed is the most interesting, wherefrom its famous "bone beams", named by Fisac himself because of their similarity to the bone structures of animals, it manages to save 22 meters of the ship to introduce the necessary indirect natural light to carry out the tests and evacuation of the water from the roof.
One of the most important works by Francisco Javier Sáenz de Oiza is undoubtedly the current Castellana 81 building, known since its creation by different generations of architects as the Banco Bilbao tower.
With 107 meters high, 37 floors, and just over 36 years (the project was built between 1978 and 1981), the current tower, designed by Fco Javier Sáenz de Oíza, was initially known as the Banco Bilbao tower, passing through BBV and BBVA. Now after its sale and a fairly respectful reform carried out by the Ruíz Barbarín Arquitectos studio, it becomes known as Castellana 81, it is a benchmark of 20th-century architecture in Madrid and Spain.
With 107 meters high, 37 floors, and just over 36 years (the project was built between 1978 and 1981), the current tower, designed by Fco Javier Sáenz de Oíza, was initially known as the Banco Bilbao tower, passing through BBV and BBVA. Now after its sale and a fairly respectful reform carried out by the Ruíz Barbarín Arquitectos studio, it becomes known as Castellana 81, it is a benchmark of 20th-century architecture in Madrid and Spain.
Located in the Madrid square of Emilio Castelar, the Castelar Building (1986) was designed by the architects Rafael de La-Hoz Arderius and Gerardo Olivares. Today it is owned by Mutua Madrileña and is the home of Pérez-Llorca.
The building presents a series of structural characteristics such as its cable-stayed structure that eliminates the pillars and its double skin of glass helps with climate control. The building connects to the street through a travertine staircase that leads you to the large stone hall, illuminated from above by skylights.
The building presents a series of structural characteristics such as its cable-stayed structure that eliminates the pillars and its double skin of glass helps with climate control. The building connects to the street through a travertine staircase that leads you to the large stone hall, illuminated from above by skylights.
Built-in 1966 by José Antonio Corrales and Ramón Vázquez Molezún, the Huarte house is an icon of modern Spanish architecture.
From the outside it appears as an opaque and almost walled house, however, it offers a completely different experience once we discover the inside. The entire space opens up and communicates both physically and visually thanks to the large windows and movable partitions that separate the different rooms, all of them facing the stepped patios full of vegetation. A retreat of peace and tranquility that seems to transport us to a place far removed from the outside world.
From the outside it appears as an opaque and almost walled house, however, it offers a completely different experience once we discover the inside. The entire space opens up and communicates both physically and visually thanks to the large windows and movable partitions that separate the different rooms, all of them facing the stepped patios full of vegetation. A retreat of peace and tranquility that seems to transport us to a place far removed from the outside world.
In 1997, in the international competition for the New Terminal Area of Madrid Barajas Airport called by Aena, the proposal was won by the team of the British architecture studio Richard Rogers Partnership and the Spanish Estudio Lamela.
This project was characterized by its simplicity and flexibility, incorporating the four basic principles such as integration into the landscape to orient ourselves inside, natural light inputs reducing consumption, spatial clarity, and flexibility for changing configurations.
This project was characterized by its simplicity and flexibility, incorporating the four basic principles such as integration into the landscape to orient ourselves inside, natural light inputs reducing consumption, spatial clarity, and flexibility for changing configurations.
The Church of Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Filipinas is a hidden brutalist treasure, the work of the architect Sánchez-Robles Tarín in the late 1960s, clearly influenced by the great masters of modern architecture.
But its uniqueness does not reside in its style, if not in the way in which it solves the various uses it welcomes, differentiating volumes of great formal clarity, which are unified with the use of raw concrete in all elements. The changes in scale depending on the exterior and interior, the treatment of light and the resolution of spaces stand out.
But its uniqueness does not reside in its style, if not in the way in which it solves the various uses it welcomes, differentiating volumes of great formal clarity, which are unified with the use of raw concrete in all elements. The changes in scale depending on the exterior and interior, the treatment of light and the resolution of spaces stand out.
The Museum of the Illustration of the ABC is located between numbers 29-31 of Amaniel street, in a central street of the capital. The building has been rehabilitated by the architects Aranguren & Gallegos.
There are 3,500 square meters of surface area divided into six floors including two exhibition rooms, areas for activities, an archive, restoration workshops, cafeteria ... This museum was created to become a European reference in the field of drawing and illustration.
There are 3,500 square meters of surface area divided into six floors including two exhibition rooms, areas for activities, an archive, restoration workshops, cafeteria ... This museum was created to become a European reference in the field of drawing and illustration.
The Maravillas Gymnasium by the Spanish architect Alejandro de la Sota is a magnificent example of rational Spanish architecture from the second half of the 20th century.
In a very clever way, Alejandro de la Sota integrates a classroom in the metal trusses for each gap between porticoes, taking advantage of a space condemned to disuse, but necessary to save the 20-meter span. Thus, not only does he manage to create an 'inhabited structure', but it also fits the classroom program perfectly by having an amphitheater section in which to place the desks.
In a very clever way, Alejandro de la Sota integrates a classroom in the metal trusses for each gap between porticoes, taking advantage of a space condemned to disuse, but necessary to save the 20-meter span. Thus, not only does he manage to create an 'inhabited structure', but it also fits the classroom program perfectly by having an amphitheater section in which to place the desks.
The racecourse of the Zarzuela racecourse is one of the best works of Spanish architecture of the first third of the 20th century, and the structure of the stands with the canopies, one of the great achievements of the century worldwide.
In 1934, Arniches, Domínguez and Torroja won the competition for the new Madrid racecourse. After the Civil War, in 1941, the works were completed and the Hippodrome was inaugurated with minimal facilities, which would continue to be improved and expanded. After a phase of abandonment, in 2004 Junquera Arquitectos won the contest for the rehabilitation of this architectonic jewel.
In 1934, Arniches, Domínguez and Torroja won the competition for the new Madrid racecourse. After the Civil War, in 1941, the works were completed and the Hippodrome was inaugurated with minimal facilities, which would continue to be improved and expanded. After a phase of abandonment, in 2004 Junquera Arquitectos won the contest for the rehabilitation of this architectonic jewel.
The building of the Museum of the Royal Collections that was designed by the studio of the architects Emilio Tuñón Álvarez and Luis Moreno García-Mansilla is completely built.
It is a 40,000 m² building distributed over a total of 14 floors (7 on the Campo del Moro façade and 14 on the East façade, next to the Cathedral) that house exhibition halls 103 meters long and 16 meters high. wide with heights that vary from 6 to 8 meters, 6 department stores, reception rooms for works of art, public reception areas, offices, as well as spaces for technical rooms and facilities.
It is a 40,000 m² building distributed over a total of 14 floors (7 on the Campo del Moro façade and 14 on the East façade, next to the Cathedral) that house exhibition halls 103 meters long and 16 meters high. wide with heights that vary from 6 to 8 meters, 6 department stores, reception rooms for works of art, public reception areas, offices, as well as spaces for technical rooms and facilities.
The Palacio de Linares is a characteristic example of Madrid's 19th century palatial architecture that began to be built in 1877 as the residence of the Marquises of Linares. The building was built by Carlos Colubí, Adolf Ombrecht and Manuel Aníbal Álvarez.
Its exterior sculptural elements were designed by Jerónimo Suñol, also the author of the great central staircase, combining with great elegance French and Italian decorative elements. In 1976 it was declared a historical-artistic monument, destined for the headquarters of the Casa de América.
Its exterior sculptural elements were designed by Jerónimo Suñol, also the author of the great central staircase, combining with great elegance French and Italian decorative elements. In 1976 it was declared a historical-artistic monument, destined for the headquarters of the Casa de América.
Corner square with Calle Alcalá and Calle Sevilla - Monument to the Master Alonso, Madrid, Spain.
The Canalejas Center is a mixed-use complex located in the Plaza de Canalejas in Madrid. The complex has been rehabilitated and renovated by Estudio Lamela, it is made up of 7 historical buildings from different periods, which throughout the 20th century were joined to a single complex.
The intervention in the project has redistributed the program into a mix of uses horizontally, rather than vertically. The integration of the commercial use and hotel program with the Four Seasons characteristics influenced this project decision and ended up being the starting motor for the complex.
Casa Carvajal is a brutalist concrete house, designed by the architect, Javier Carvajal Ferrer, for him and his family in 1966, with such good results and skill that in 1969 it was awarded the Fritz Schumacher Prize.
The house is built around two interior patios that make the flow of the house circulate in an 8-shape, this generates a particular way of life that allows communication through different routes with different approaches and distances. The house is developed on a single floor, built on three platforms that adapt to the terrain.
The house is built around two interior patios that make the flow of the house circulate in an 8-shape, this generates a particular way of life that allows communication through different routes with different approaches and distances. The house is developed on a single floor, built on three platforms that adapt to the terrain.
Parish of Santa Ana y la Esperanza is located in the Moratalaz area of Madrid, what was thought of as a neighborhood church; Small, humble, and sentimental, it has become the perfect summary of Fisac's work between the 1960s and early 1970s.
The set of buildings built in concrete "in situ" and crowned with the same roof sewn with its famous bone beams, is characterized by the relationship between the Church and the rest of the services, seeking to homogenize all the pieces and give unity to the Set.
The set of buildings built in concrete "in situ" and crowned with the same roof sewn with its famous bone beams, is characterized by the relationship between the Church and the rest of the services, seeking to homogenize all the pieces and give unity to the Set.
The construction of the BBVA city, by Herzog & de Meuron, began in 2009 and ended in 2015. The building includes offices of the BBVA bank, as well as gardens and patios, common and commercial services, among others.
It is characterized by its vertical circular tower-like element called La Vela in contrast to its very linear horizontal base. The spaces inside the complex are open, glazed, multidisciplinary, and created for connection and interrelation rather than for division and hierarchy.
It is characterized by its vertical circular tower-like element called La Vela in contrast to its very linear horizontal base. The spaces inside the complex are open, glazed, multidisciplinary, and created for connection and interrelation rather than for division and hierarchy.
The Giner de Los Ríos Foundation, designed by the renowned study Amid.cero9, formed by Cristina Díaz and Efrén García, proposed in 2003 due to the deteriorating conditions of the Foundation's buildings, begins a process for the rehabilitation and expansion from its headquarters.
The proposal of the Amid.cero9 studio fully maintains the historical buildings of the complex and replaces the rest of the buildings with a series of volumes that are related to each other through the garden, the generating space of the entire project.
The proposal of the Amid.cero9 studio fully maintains the historical buildings of the complex and replaces the rest of the buildings with a series of volumes that are related to each other through the garden, the generating space of the entire project.
The Nieto y Sobejano Arquitectos studio, projected in 2009 the remodeling of the Barceló Market after the call of the Madrid City Council. It did not open its doors until 2014 due to the economic crisis.
The remodeling project has generated what could be called a great "social condenser" or programmatic, bringing together a market area, a sports center, and an activity that could be considered the opposite of the previous ones, a library.
The remodeling project has generated what could be called a great "social condenser" or programmatic, bringing together a market area, a sports center, and an activity that could be considered the opposite of the previous ones, a library.
20. Beti Jai Fronton
Calle del Marqués del Riscal, 7, 28010 Madrid, Spain.
This fronton, located in the Chamberí district, is the only memory of a time when the frontons were the first stable sports facilities in the city of Madrid. These social spaces were considered meeting places, where gambling, bars, and restaurants generated great economic activity.
Built-in the Neomudejar style and sumptuous, after the arrival of other sports, its decline began. After getting rid of the demolition on several occasions, the City Council classifies it as a unique building, urging its processing as an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC). It is currently rehabilitated.
