Photographer: Luis Asín | ArchDaily

Between Materials and Memory: Three Madrid Architecture Practices on Heritage Rehabilitation

Agustina Iñiguez — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 07:30:00 +0000

The role of heritage rehabilitation in the contemporary architectural landscape is shaped by a wide range of research, beliefs, memories, and efforts aimed at redefining and strengthening our built environment. When undertaking a transformation, renovation, or preservation project, architects can employ diverse strategies and tools to encourage a meaningful coexistence between what already exists and what is newly introduced. Together with three Madrid-based architecture practices—SOLAR, Pachón-Paredes, and BA-RRO—we set out to engage in conversation and explore their creative processes and ideals, recognizing the complexity and value of historic buildings as repositories of materials, structures, and construction techniques from other eras.

Godai Pavilion / Baldó Arquitectura

Andreas Luco — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 10:00:00 +0000

The site. The project was born as an architectural response to the construction of a pavilion for guests attached to the pool of an existing home in the rural environment of Cantabria. The land on which it sits extends with a slight downward slope towards the north, with the house, the pool, and the Pavilion located in the southern area of the plot. The local climate takes on a fundamental value, where strong winds, rain, and summer sun become protagonists.

Dental Clinic Impress Madrid Teens / Raúl Sánchez

Andreas Luco — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 01:00:00 +0000

This new clinic for Impress in Madrid is located on a busy corner of Carranza street, where a line of huge granite ashlars delimits the perimeter towards the street, while inside, slender and refined wrought iron columns make the counterpoint to the ashlars. This striking contrast between these two porticoes guided the design process: a series of curves in the form of cylinders crowd the interior party wall and play with the wrought iron columns, leaving them inside or outside them, while leaving an empty space towards the stone ashlars, where the lobby and the waiting area are resolved, always in close contact with the street. In this way, a dialectic game is created between the enormous stone pillars, which are given space to be seen, and the curves and iron pillars, which appear, in contrast, as fragile planes and lines that approach and move away from the ashlars. Even the iron columns themselves have been painted red, giving them a more playful character compared to the stony seriousness of the granite.

Transforming Factories into Living Spaces: The Changing Face of Spain's Industrial Architecture

Belén Maiztegui — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 05:00:00 +0000

The progressive departure of factories from cities, often due to environmental regulations, noise ordinances, or the price of real estate, has left many urban manufacturing facilities abandoned and out of use. As these urban factories are left empty, many adventurous developers are taking advantage of the plentiful space, light, and flexible functions that they offer, leading to a residential revitalization in many of the world's defunct manufacturing facilities.

Runnymede College Campus Masterplan / Aulario B / Rojo/Fernández-Shaw

Valeria Silva — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 03:00:00 +0000

In November 2016, Runnymede College – a British school located in Madrid, Spain – called for an architecture competition to configure its premises, of 6.760 sq. mt. property including new and existing buildings, the common spaces and the sports grounds, according to an Anglo Saxon academic and environmental model. A pragmatic approach to knowledge, interdisciplinary programs, the charismatic figure of the tutor and an emphasis on collaborative work shape the character of the spatial organization, its atmosphere and the system of visual and physical relationships.

The Colors of Brick

Lilly Cao — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 04:30:00 +0000

Brick is one of the most popular materials for architects designing with a vintage or rustic aesthetic: exposed brick walls are often touted as highly desirable for apartments, restaurants, and stores, and exterior brick facades can make a building or home feel warmer and more inviting. However, the color and cut of the brick can greatly influence the atmosphere it emanates, with white brick lending itself to more minimalist design and tan brick tending to feel more rustic and earthy. In this article, we will explore some of the most popular brick colors, ways to artificially color brick, and recent projects that use brick facades or interior brick elements effectively.

Banco de España Library Restoration / Matilde Peralta del Amo

Valeria Silva — Mon, 13 Jul 2020 06:00:00 +0000

The Bank of Spain is the national central bank and the supervisor of the Spanish banking system together with the European Central Bank. Its main headquarters is located in the center of the city of Madrid, at the Cibeles square. It occupies a complete block and was built in several phases from the late 19th century till the beginning of the 21st century.

Ribas Winery Extension / Rafael Moneo + Canals Moneo Arquitectos

Clara Ott — Tue, 12 May 2020 02:00:00 +0000

Together with Rafael Moneo, Clara Moneo and Valerio Canals (Canals Moneo arquitectos) has expanded the Bodega Ribas, a winery in Consell, Mallorca, which, as part of the old Ca’n Ribas listed stately home from the 18th century has been preserved intact to date, with its original historic barrel cellar and winemaking warehouse.

La Nave Refurbishment / Nomos

Pilar Caballero — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 03:00:00 +0000

A former printshop. 227 square meters, 34 linear meters of facade, 10 meters deep. A 5 x 5 meters grid of concrete pillars and downpipes attached to the central pillars.

‘Wanda Metropolitano’ Football Stadium / Cruz y Ortiz Arquitectos

Martita Vial della Maggiora — Sun, 10 Feb 2019 09:00:00 +0000

The new Club Atlético de Madrid Stadium, Wanda Metropolitano, is the result of the expansion of the old Athletics Stadium of the Community of Madrid, completed in 1994. The project consisted of building a football stadium capable of obtaining the highest qualification that allowed it to host European final competitions, and an approximate capacity of 70,000 spectators.

The Pavilion / Norman Foster Foundation

Fernanda Castro — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 03:00:00 +0000

The Norman Foster Foundation, which officially opened its headquarters in a heritage-listed residential Palace by Joaquín Saldaña in Madrid on 1 June, has opened a new pavilion in its courtyard that will show a changing display of objects and images that have, over the years, been personal references for Foster. The flexible space will also be the setting for talks and discussion groups, and features a façade that can open to the courtyard for outdoor events.

ETH Hönggerberg / Tuñón & Ruckstuhl Architects

Cristobal Rojas — Sat, 04 Feb 2017 05:00:00 +0000

The gastronomic pavilion at the ETH Hönggerberg has been conceived as a prism that serves as an architectural filter between the campus and the landscape and serves as a meeting point for teachers, visitors, employees and students, as well as a reception place for international guests. On the south side opening to the campus and on the north side allowing to enjoy a beautiful view over the wide landscape, the building has an open and flexible structure and its series of wood porticoes form an elegant hall.

Royal Collections Museum / Mansilla + Tuñón Arquitectos

Daniela Cardenas — Thu, 25 Aug 2016 03:00:00 +0000

From an urban perspective, the project is based on two fundamental principles: on the one hand, the Royal Collection museum should be part of the natural-artificial landscape of Madrid’s western edge, and on the other, it is necessary to maintain the open, public nature of La Almunena and preserve views of the parks and gardens beneath the western lip of the city. The Museum, in its linear structure as an inhabited containment wall, tries to reduce the objective (physical and subjective (collective subconscious) environmental impact on the monumental plinth of the Royal Palace.

Two Houses in Oropesa / Paredes Pedrosa

Karen Valenzuela — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 02:00:00 +0000

Two houses in Oropesa 13th century town walls.

Museo Arqueológico Nacional / Frade Arquitectos

Daniel Sánchez — Fri, 16 May 2014 01:00:00 +0000

Two months ago, on March 31st, the opening ceremony of the new Museo Arqueológico Nacional took place. There is no doubt that it was an event that had been long waited for. A clear example of this, is the large amount of visitors that it has attracted during the first couple of weeks. A figure over 5000 visitors per day. Even though the museum has only been closed down for two and a half years out of the six that the construction lasted, it was clear to see that the re-opening generated a lot of expectation.

Playa Mayor Services Building UAM / MTM Arquitectos

Daniel Sánchez — Thu, 21 Nov 2013 00:00:00 +0000

The city where we build this Plaza Mayor has got a specific surname, is a University City. The University has grown around a meeting and circulation central space, a green boulevard which has become the central structure of the university. At one of its ends the recent commuter station is located which connects us to the city center (Puerta del SOl) and at its other extreme, the Plaza Mayor.

Navalmoral de la Mata / Matilde Peralta del Amo

Fernanda Castro — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 01:00:00 +0000

The old Municipal Market, now the Navolmoral de la Mata Theatre, is a free standing structure located at the edge of the traditional town center and the area of twentieth century urban growth. The original “L” shaped edifice was formed by 2 sheds and an open atrium providing access to storage areas.

Eastern District of Seville Police Station / Paredes Pedrosa

Daniel Portilla [Dapo] — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 01:00:00 +0000

The “panopticon” organization of the administrative program on a plot shaped as a quarter of a circle, defines the building of the police station in East Seville. The representativeness of the new public building, in an environment of high-rise housing, is designed as a horizontal solid and a star shape with four unequal arms, continuous and without perforations. The suspended corrugated white concrete shades the deep perimeter walls, light and continuous in glass according to the orientation.