The Royal Tapestry Factory of Madrid opens its doors for the first time on the occasion of The Architecture Week and as part of the day of guided visits to buildings organized by Open House 2016. A space full of tradition in which the skilled hands of workers will not leave you indifferent. We promise you that as soon as you enter the gallery and see the huge tapestries that are exhibited there you will fall in love with this unique space of Madrid.
The loss of the Netherland territories by the Spanish Crown in the War of Succession meant the need to create a domestic industry for the manufacture of the very appreciated tapestries that, used to be imported from there, were considered of greater value than pictorial work at that time. To do this, the monarch Felipe V managed to bring from Antwerp a family of weavers who, under the leadership of the patriarch, James Vandergoten "The Old", was established in Madrid near the door of Santa Barbara, in the area where today stands the Plaza of Santa Barbara.
It was not until the nineteenth century that the manufacture moved to the outskirts of the city, around the current Atocha station, on a royal property known as the "olive grove and orchard of Atocha". The new building was commissioned by the academic and architect of Palace José Segundo de Lema, who made the project in 1884 and directed its construction until the completion of the works in 1889.
The construction criteria combined the principle of economy with a pure-blooded language of Neomudejar style, which represent Madrid and the Spanish tradition. The result was a series of pavilions, among which the central pavilion of 3 floors housing the reception and the former homes of directors, were organized around a central garden where the work of washing and drying of the tapestries took place, using elements that still remain there today.
In 2006 the building was named as National Heritage, prompting a posterior rehabilitation work two years later, acommiosioned to the architect Gregorio Marañon.
Today in the complex there cohexist state-of-the-art cleaning technologies with original files dating from the eighteenth century. Immense spaces rentable for events as well as the physical location of other entities unrelated to the craft work of the factory are also located around the garden, a small oasis where dying plants now fill this green enclosure.
ROYAL TAPESTRY FACTORY.
Where.- 2 Fuenterrabía St. Madrid (Spain).
When.- Saturday 1st, from 10.00 to 14.00 h. and from 16.00 to 20.00 h. and from Sunday
2nd to Tuesday 4th, from 10.00 to 14.00 h.
Inscription.- No inscription required
