We have discovered or confirmed how the actions we perform on the territory don't always have a solution and we have to learn to live with the mistakes, buildings and scars that others left on the territory. Despite all that, after reaching the maximum weariness possible, almost exhaustion, of constantly seeing consolidated and predictable mistakes, the only option left for us is either to disappear or to look at things optimistically, willing to build a future.
Until one day arrive the news of the last contest "by finger" and you have to say enough! Again? we start talking in the editorial department, to sum up how fast four years have gone by and how quickly we forget everything, and recapitulating you re-discover that not long ago Eurovegas was going to be built, contests were promised insisting on past errors (Gran Vía) such as the Puerta del Sol, "supreme moment of nothingness" or others like Plaza de España's that even when promised it wasn't even on the table and again the nothingness with the emptying of canalejas operation.
Following the review, we have seen new towers next to almost empty ones, judgments against new towers at the Vicente Calderon stadium, private museums of private architecture, commercial vessels that begin to be built without permits in front of Matadero, Magic Boxes with surprises ... not to mentions actions such as the sale of social housing (San Francisco el Grande) with its occupants inside, PAUs paralyzed in the southeast ... an infinite string of pearls promoted by the public administration that seem to be quickly forgotten. As someone said recently: elephants in an elevator that seem to be invisible to some or to all, but which decisions about the future can be seen and suffered by all of us.
Project.- Architecture, Design and Urbanism Museum.
Design by.- Emilio Ambasz.
Area.- 3.672 sqm.
Budget.- 12.438.622 euros.
Promotion.- Private.
Status.- Demolition to start building expected for July 2015.
At Paseo del Prado 30, in front of the Prado Museum, there is a public plot now valued on 4.610.149 euros, on which is located the former site of the UNED. The plot has been transferred, without any open competition and for a period of 75 years, to the Emilio Ambasz Foundation, who aims to demolish the existing building to include a vegetable facade that would mean an annual cost of more than 40.000 euros, an operation for which it has been necessary for the City Council of Madrid to cancel the historical and artistic property protection of the building.
Project.- Fifth skyscraper in Chamartín.
Developer.- Grupo Villar Mir.
Area.- 70.000 sqm.
Budget.- 134 Millones de euros.
Promotion.- Private.
Status.- Design phase.
Villar Mir will be responsible for building the fifth skyscraper next to the four towers of Paseo de la Castellana, which will house a private hospital, next to the Hospital of La Paz, and an area for recreational, commercial uses, etc. The City of Madrid has awarded the Villar Mir Group the municipal plot of 33.000m² for construction. With this project, Ana Botella hides one of the many examples of money waste of Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon, who had planned to raise an International Convention Center next to the four Torres, of which the foundation works had begun, but the crisis froze the project, that had a budget of 300 million euros, of which about 100 had been already spent.
Project.- Metro de Madrid's New Headquarters.
Design by.- A-Zero / Rafael Llamazares and JH International.
Budget.- 14 Million euros.
Promotion.- Public.
Status.- to be completed in 2018.
The new Metro de Madrid's Headquarters in Canillejas will be built by the studio A-Cero by 14 million euros, which will be financed by the sale of the former headquarters of the public company. This new headquarters will be completed in 2018.
Project.- "New" Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Designed by.- GMP Aquitectos and L35 Ribas.
Surface.- 12,250 sqm.
Budget.- 200 million euros.
Promotion.- Private.
Status.- Paralyzed.
In November 2011, the City Council approved the urban plan that allowed the club to cover Santiago Bernabeu stadium, build a shopping center of 12,250 square meters in the facade of the Castellana, and make 600 parking lots. In exchange, the Real Madrid agreed to convert the existing shopping center 'La Esquina' in a public park and give four plots to the City Hall, in addition to paying 6.6 million in cash. However the appeal raised four pleas brought to court to cancel the urban plan of the City Council and it has been accepted that there has been a breach of the regional land law and the rules of proper land-use planning.
Project.- Transformation of Plaza de España.
Promotion.- Public.
Surface 2.6 Ha.
Budget.- 89 million euros.
Investor.- Metrovacesa, Dalian Wanda, VP Hotels and Mutua Madrileña (49%) City of Madrid (51%).
Status.- Design phase.
A large operation included in 2011. Despite the City Council's economic difficulties, he promised to carry out the transformation on 2015. Last year, the Mayor took up the project, that aims to create a great pedestrian space of 41,000 square meters and include more than 12,500 square meters of comercial space and increase the parking area.
Project.- Vicente Calderón Stadium.
Developer.- Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas.
Area.- 175.365 sqm.
Budget.- 259 million euros.
Promotion.- Private.
Status.- Cancelled.
Vicente Calderón Stadium is located along Manzanares River, where two identical 36-story skycraper and eight blocks from 7 to 22 stories were intended to build. To that, an amendment to the 2007 Land Law was necessary. Of the total project area 55 percent of the land is municipal property, 30 percent are old factory Mahou and 15 percent is Atletico de Madrid Football Club's property. This work would end the works on the M-30 motorway that has already been consumen 4,745 million euros. Since April 2015 has been canceled the town planning by the Tribunal Superior de Justicia of Madrid.
Project.- 'Operation Campamento'.
Developer.- Ministerio de Defensa.
Area.- 1,132,098 sqm.
Developer.- Private.
Potential buyer.- Wang Jianlin.
Planned investment.- 3,000 million euros.
Status.- Planned sale of lands.
Most of the land of 'Operation Campamento' owned by the Ministero de Defensa, came last April 27th of 2015 to "planned sale", without specifying price and to be able to sound out investors before publishing the tender. But it seems that it has already a potential buyer, the Chinese magnate Wang Jianlin, which already has a free hand to start works in the Edificio España in the capital of Spain.
Project.- Eurovegas.
Developer.- Comunidad de Madrid.
Investor.- Las Vegas Sands.
Area.- 450 Ha.
Budget.- Between 15000-21000 million euros.
Status.- Cancelled.
The US magnate Sheldon Adelson's project to build in Madrid an immense casino claimen public land to build his capital of the game and move the social housing. The millonaire requirements regarding legislative reforms affecting laws like foreigners law, tobacco law or the workers' statute. Finally were not backed by the Goverment (despite the insistence of the executive of Madrid). In December 2013 Eurovegas gives up to build its casino complex in Alcorcón.
Project.- Madrid Olympics 20 _ _.
Promotor.- Madrid City Council.
Budget.- 1,518 million euros.
Promotion.- Public.
Status.- Non suitable.
The 'low cost' project presented by Madrid's Mayor for 2020 Madrid Olympics did not convince the judges once again. It will probably be due to projects like the 'Caja Mágica', presented as the 'crown jewel' of the candidacy of 2012, reached a final cost of 294 million euros (twice the amount budgeted) and today houses a unique annual event. Not to mention the Aquatic Centre a concrete skeletons paralyzed since 2010 that has cost the locals about 120 million euros.
Project.- 'Operation Chamartin'.
Surface.- 3 Million sqm.
Budget.- 6,000 million euros.
Investment.- Public and Private.
Status.- scheduled to begin by 2015.
The Ministry of Public Works, City Hall and the Community of Madrid with the company 'Distrito Castellana Norte Madrid' (of which BBVA controls 75.5% and San José Group the rest of it) have agreed to the launch the old project 'Operation Chamartin', conceived 20 years ago. The project, which will involve the complete transformation of the north of the city, has been paralyzed since 2004, pending the modification of the Partial Plan, which has already been done.
