Conde Duque Culture Centre, Madrid, Spain

Architect: Carlos de Riaño
Text: Anna Kóródy, Zorán Vukoszávlyev
Photos: Zorán Vukoszávlyev

Designed by Pedro de Ribera, the military barracks was built in 1720 in Madrid to accommodate about 600 soldiers and 400 horses of the royal guard of Philip V. Abandoned in 1969, the building now temporarily houses cultural establishments and is going to be completely revived to change its military function to that of culture after the tender-winning designs of a young architect. The grand dimensions of appr. 30.000 m2 floor area was divided into three parts, allowing for a breezy functional composition. Professional reconstruction permitted the exposure of the rustic structuring of the walls, whilst beneath the solid and thick structure car parks were contained on two levels. Cleaned brickwork alternating with granite pillars and cast-iron columns represent the most important features of the preserved historic character, to which the new components adjust in a way reminiscent of installations.

Architect: Carlos de Riaño Lozano
Co-architects: María del Hierro, Luis García Cebadera
Fellow architects: Almudena Peralta Quintana, Rebeca Hurtado Díaz
Structure: Otep Internacional
Main contractor: Edhinor, U.T.E. F. Molina – Geocisa, Pecsa, F. Molina, Cpa y Vias
Client: Madrid City Council