Castellana 106-108
Office · Madrid, ES
THIRD PRIZE | DESIGN COMPETITION
In collaboration with Antonio Hernández Gálvez, Arquitecto 10.126 COAM
The act of unifying two buildings with distinct characteristics into a single entity is envisioned, creating a new reality that stands out with clarity and coherence. The building takes on the challenge of establishing itself on the historic Paseo de la Castellana with dignity and restraint, adopting a recognizable and timeless architectural language aimed at preserving and enriching the avenue’s valuable architectural legacy. Meanwhile, the creation of the new street connecting Joaquín Costa with Carbonero y Sol gives rise to a building that must inherently address two different scales and orientations. Both façades express this unified vision through similar regulating lines, while offering a nuanced and precise response to their orientation and the unique character of the street they face.
Two solutions for a new, unique and cohesive reality: Two faces of the same facade.
The West façade, facing Castellana, rises with striking boldness, featuring a wide and elegant base and a crown that ascends across three levels. Designed to withstand the intensity of Madrid’s western sun, this façade incorporates a denser configuration and a discreet yet effective active solar protection system.
In contrast, the East façade, oriented toward the recently created narrow street designed for daily activity, is conceived to maximize natural light with a more open arrangement. It engages with the street through a more modest single-story base and culminates in a subtle crown achieved through the progressive setback of the upper floors.
The proposal addresses all required uses with an organizational strategy that maximizes efficiency and flexibility. This involves implementing a single, centralized, and compact core designed to function seamlessly whether the properties are combined or subdivided, as determined by the owner and tenants. Additionally, all services are concentrated within the central bay -of lesser value- freeing the two bays along the façades for exclusive office use. This central spine is the ideal location for two generous covered atriums, introducing natural light into the darker areas of the building.
The project maintains the original volumetry, respecting the existing setbacks. By incorporating essential spaces for the operation of the new building, such as utility areas, ramps, and elements that promote universal accessibility and generous fire egress circulation, the project successfully preserves the previously exhausted buildable area.
In addition to updating and improving the building, the aim is to do so as efficiently as possible. This is achieved by maximizing the usable office area, minimizing unusable spaces through a compact core and a central service spine located in the least valuable bay of the property. Furthermore, enough buildable area is freed up to create a new rooftop level with a terrace, providing new spaces for relaxation and socialization.
All of this is accomplished without increasing the total built area and avoiding fixed area losses.
Scissor Stairs
The scissor stair configuration offers two independently protected staircases within a smaller footprint compared to two conventional staircases. This space-saving solution allows more room for offices and oversizing the stairs to achieve an occupancy ratio of 1:8.
Dual Elevator Cores
The two separated elevator cores feature pleasant arrival lobbies facing the generous light-filled atriums. In the case of combined property use, this ensures well-distributed arrivals across the floor. Furthermore, the design supports the division of properties, enabling independent and efficient operations.
Integrated Ramps
It is essential to integrate accessible ramps into the core to accommodate the level differences of the existing floor slabs. These ramps are sized to address the maximum height difference, facilitating accessible circulation while offering greater flexibility within the office space. They are visually concealed within a clean, unified element.
Centralized Utilities
The core also includes technical spaces in the corners. Each utility shaft measures 1.8 x 1.8 meters, with one dedicated to electricity, telecommunications, racks, and servers, and the other to wet systems for rainwater collection and water-based HVAC systems. All are accessible from the lobby, ensuring ease of maintenance.
9th Floor Plan – Rooftop and Amenities
7th Floor Plan – Setback Office Floor
5th Floor Plan – Office Floor
Ground Floor Plan – Entry and Amenities
The proposal envisions a meticulous and respectful minimal intervention strategy that protects, repairs, reinforces, and stabilizes the building.
The underpinning of foundations with micropiles and the creation of a new structural core of concrete shear walls ensure load redistribution and structural stability. The addition of a lightweight steel structure on the rooftop and the construction of self-supporting façades will provide bracing for the entire structure.
Four columns on the ground floor will be modified to transfer loads, optimizing vehicle access and street-level functionality.
The construction sequence, designed for minimal impact, will extend the lifespan of the existing structure, ensuring its future functionality while enhancing the building’s structural stability.
The use of brick in Madrid’s architecture holds significant historical relevance, reflecting both ancient building traditions and an exceptional adaptation to the local climate. Our project revives this noble tradition by incorporating this durable material, renowned for its remarkable ability to absorb and release heat. This property naturally enhances the building’s thermal stability, reducing the need for costly technologies both during installation and in long-term maintenance.
Beyond its inherent technical qualities, brick lends constructions a texture and visual warmth that harmoniously integrates with the urban landscape of Paseo de la Castellana. Born from the earth, shaped according to anthropometric principles, and laid by hand, brick imbues the building with a welcoming and distinctive character, fostering an intimate connection with its users.
From an expressive standpoint, we propose using brick with precision and rationality. This approach aligns with the project’s character and is rooted in the inherent construction discipline of the material’s modular nature.
The strategy to unify the building and its image hinges on the meticulous and precise treatment of its façades. On one hand, the façades address the variation in the structural rhythm inherited from the previous buildings by employing modular repetition and emphasizing the new vertical character of the composition.
On the other hand, the specific scale and orientation of both façades are managed through (a) subtle adjustments in the geometry of the base and crown, and (b) the implementation of an active system to control excess solar exposure on the west side. In this way, the façades not only achieve coherence and suitability within their surrounding context but also play a fundamental role in preserving the new identity of the building, both in essence and appearance.
In summary, the building that emerges from the rehabilitation of the existing structures, set within its exceptional location, presents itself with subtle elegance. Its image, characterized by a discreet yet robust presence, seeks to convey values to the city that transcend time, intertwining the legacy of the past with the essence of the present.
Thus, the warmth and intimacy of brick as a historical material are fused with a renewed commitment to sustainability, programmatic functionality, and constructive pragmatism. The proposal aspires to elevate the quality of its spaces and the surrounding urban environment through new façades with a markedly rational character that delicately evoke the structural rhythms of the buildings that preceded them.
These new surfaces manifest a serene solemnity, avoiding ostentatious gestures that could disrupt the complexity and historical richness of their context. In this dialogue between the pre-existing and the new, a harmony emerges that respects the memory of the site while opening the door to a sustainable and enriching future.
Brick: A Versatile and Sustainable Material
Brick is chosen as the primary material defining the project due to its essential relevance in Madrid’s historical architecture. Its timeless nature, the construction precision it encourages, and its low maintenance requirements make this noble material a sensible solution for the new offices. In addition to these qualities, brick is highly versatile and significantly sustainable.
The versatility of brick lies primarily in the wide variety of shapes, colors, and textures it offers. This allows for a careful on-site selection of the color and finish texture for the new offices, ensuring that the choice aligns with both the immediate surroundings and the general guidelines established within the “Landscape of Light.”
Moreover, brick is a sustainable material due to its natural origin, being derived from the earth, its energy efficiency through thermal inertia, and its recyclability. Its production, when carried out responsibly, minimizes environmental impact, making it an ideal choice for eco-friendly constructions.
Façade System
The self-supporting façade, equipped with low-emissivity GS double glazing (01), incorporates an advanced adjustable solar protection system, featuring interior blinds (02) and automated exterior breathable roller shades (90–99% opacity) with wind-resistant steel guides and terminals (03). This comprehensive design aims to optimize the building’s thermal performance and energy efficiency. The low-emissivity glass reduces heat transfer, enhancing indoor comfort.
The interior blinds and exterior roller shades are designed with an openness factor that not only facilitates outward views but also maximizes the entry of natural light, while simultaneously limiting the direct impact of the intense western sunlight of Madrid. This solution ensures adequate ventilation for the façade’s fabric, striking a balance between brightness and solar protection, achieving optimal indoor conditions while reducing energy consumption for climate control.
The brick used in the façade stands out for its exceptional fire resistance, significantly contributing to the building’s overall safety. This characteristic is essential for fire prevention, providing an effective barrier against heat and flames. Furthermore, its durability and dimensional stability ensure consistent performance over time, meaning the brick will retain its structural properties without requiring frequent or costly maintenance.
Winter
Summer
The building’s design maximizes energy savings by optimizing natural light through its façade, atriums, and interior finishes. It incorporates dual adjustable solar protection systems to reduce solar radiation (exterior system) and glare (interior system), decreasing the reliance on artificial lighting.
This dual active solar protection offers multiple benefits. First, the interior blinds facilitate solar energy capture in winter, allowing for the accumulation of solar radiation inside. Second, the exterior roller shades protect against solar radiation in summer while ventilating through their breathable fabric and an innovative exterior convective ventilation system.
Thermal insulation is designed to minimize energy demand. It includes a generous, continuous layer of 11 cm thickness without thermal bridges, along with additional interior insulation on partition walls. Combined with the low percentage of openings in the façade, insulated roofs, and green roof systems, this strategy significantly reduces energy transfer in both summer and winter.
The building features 100% natural ventilation systems using fresh outdoor air, equipped with heat recovery units and adjustable airflow based on occupancy. Convective ventilation in the atriums acts as solar chimneys to renew the air.
Natural ventilation systems powered by photovoltaic energy are seamlessly integrated into the enclosures and finish solutions. These systems reduce energy consumption and promote cross-ventilation, operating silently and without drafts.
Project Team
- Luis Collado
- Jose Luis de la Fuente
- Carlos Barranco
- Ignacio Espigares
- Inés Fernández
- Shane Krenn
- Álvaro Mesquida
- Gonzalo Rojas
- Miguel Ruiz-Rivas
- Ana Sánchez Iza
