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North of Madrid Architectural Tour: Fisac Sacred Modern Architecture, MRDV new social housing, Rafael de la Hoz Telefonica C District & the Best of Herzog & de Meuron with the new headqarters for the BBVA Bank
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1. New Headquarters BBVA Bank (2007-15) by Herzog & de Meuron is perhaps one the best contemporary project in Madrid. A whole new complex that integreats several pre-existing buildings on site that were in a good condition. Around are buildings are unified by a linear continues facade that is a very original compositions ir irregular, still “aerodinamic” brise-soleis. This is a solar protection system of beautifull asthectics. The space between the buildings, like in a green city in itself, are corridors, patios full gardens and streets. In its interior stands out a major circular plaza, the main public space for the complex, with a transparent , also circular high rise building, which has become a landmark for the territory known as the “sail ” (in Spanish vela) of a sail boat.
It’s orientated in relation to the sun path, to minimize sun exposure during the summer season. We wont be granted permission to enter the complex, but the headquarters, so that we may first see its presence from. the distance, get closer to its very interesting facade, and it’s sufficiently permeable so that we may look into the main plaza. This is a state of the art contemporary project, well worth visiting.
2. Church of San Pedro Martir (1955-60) by Fisac in Alcobendas, Madrid is part of the Convent of Dominican Fathers. In the complex stands out of exceptional beauty the Parish Church of San Pedro, with its tensile roof that allows the effect of it float over the main space. In between this element and the elaborated brick walls there is a horizontal and continuous stain glass gap (or interstice) that indeed makes the roof appear to be suspended. In the center, above the altar, a large skylight allows a strong descent of intense white light over the altar and the also suspended cross. Behind the altar, the two curbing brick walls reveal the presence of higher level, i.e, the choir stalls with a reddish-coloured large stain glass window. The visual effect of the light, the weightless of the architectural elements of this interior sacred space, is a sublime spiritual experience of light, stillness, and contemplation. The Dominican Fathers are in this spatial order the relationship between the physical and spiritual, opening up here behind and above them, through the the sacrament of the Eucharist (el sacramento de la Eucaristía).
3. The Viewpoint of San Chinarro District, in Spanish known as “Mirador de San Chinarro” (2005) by Jacob van Rijs (MVRDV, Rotterdam) is a 22 floor housing block in the District of Sanchinarro, a residential suburb on the north east edge of Madrid. The most impressive element of the building is the incredible gap, or empty space in the centre, which acts as a frame for the distant landscape and the mountains to be looked at from this elevated viewing platform. This large communal plaza or community space, stand 40 meter above the ground, and is meant to be used by the neighbourhood as a meeting area and playground. The Mirador Bldg. contains 156 dwellings with a wide variety of typologies . MRDV created a distinctive silhouette by grouping nine blocks. The articulation of these blocks is apparent in the exterior with a palette, of stone, concrete and tile, and red metal red strip of red indicate the circulations, staircases and corridors. The way the nine parts are stacked and joined together, make up a new towering impressive ‘superblock’ (MVRDV). Blanca Lleó Asociados (Madrid) was the local studio that was responsible for executing the project on site.
4. Lattice House Block (2009) also Jacob van Rijs (MVRDV, Rotterdam) in San Chinarro. Edificio Celosia in Spanish means Lattice building. This social housing project is an alternative solution to the closed block. The proposal aspires to be a construction system rather than a unique building. The block, in the form of lattice, mixes 30 constructed boxes and 30 empty spaces. Those empty spaces are for intermediate neighbourhood life. The volumes contain 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms typologies and the vertical patios generated between them are common spaces that allow crossed visual perspectives in all directions. The birds, wind and the sun cut through the building. The concrete formwork construction explored a more effective and quality of a faster and a more sustainable construction system (text from website Blanca Lleó).
5. New Telefónica Headquarters (2004-08) by Rafael de la Hoz in Alcobendas, Madrid. This new headquarters for Spain biggest telecommunications phone company, is a beautiful project by Rafael de la-Hoz which stand out by the solar control facade employed in the four towers that that are located on the four corners of this contemporary immense system, that may resemble a castle, a contemporary castle of innovative technology. A similar control system was initially explored by his father, also a great architect with the same Rafael de la Hoz name, in the Castelar Building (1977-83) in Paseo de la Castellana (Madrid). But the new Telefónica Headquarters has four towers alike in each corner, interconnected with a horizontal plane roof system that incorporates what was the largest installation of solar panels in Europe, which shelters and protects the rest of the building of this macro-architecture project, which has in its centre a semi public park space, and construed its own metro station underground, and therefore linked to the mayor city’s transportation system.
Possible extension
6. Chambers of Commerce High Council (2007) also by Rafael de la hoz : The Headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce in Madrid is situated next to the highway M-40. The The cube building has clean lines and is very transparent, with three openings that allow light to enter and to look outwards from the ‘camera’ (Camara de Comercio). This geometric distribution, a cube inside another, as well as the materials used is not arbitrary. It connects the interior with the environment outside the building. The inside floating cube, is a beautiful experience of a floating double light (light and lighten) interior space that invites to a subtle, perhaps artistic, experience of introversion and contemplation.
The facades combine glass, white concrete and carpentry of aluminum, thus creating a set of materials and volumes. The opening leading to the motorway is closed and is metallic, that of the entry is translucent and weightless and that connects to the park is glass transparent. The latter, for the administration of the Council, is a supporting facade and gives life to the two sides held cameras, dedicated to the assemblies and meetings.
7. Barajas Airport Terminal 4 (1997) by Richard Rogers (London) & Estudio Lamela (Madrid)
Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD) is Spain’s busiest airport and was doubled with the Richard Rogers addition of the new Terminal 4 and two extra runways. Consisting of a main building (T4) and satellite building (T4S), which are separated by approximately 2.5 km, the new terminal is meant to give passengers a stress-free start to their journey. This is managed through careful use of illumination, available by glass panes instead of walls and numerous domes in the roof for natural light to pass through. Expressive air conditioning outlets resembling giant bar code readers animate the baggage collection stands. It won the 2006 Stirling Prize. Judges commented: “The elegant over-sailing roof is a unifying device and succeeds in being both dominant and yet calmly and self-assuredly understated. The sinuous, lightweight consistency of the bamboo slatted lining contrasts with the modular repetition of the gymnastic steel roof structure that in turn is supported off a monumental concrete frame.”
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Details:
- Starting Point: At your hotel as it is advisable to move on private transport, alternatively meeting point in Metro Ronda de la Comunicación (L10).
- Duration: 4 hrs.
- Language : English, Spanish and others upon request
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Itinerary:
Photos:
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