CaixaForum Madrid
La CaixaForum is a museum , auditorium and conference center in downtown Madrid (Spain). It was founded in 2008.
The building is located on the site of the former Central Eléctrica del Mediodía power station, in the immediate vicinity of the Prado and Reina Sofia museums in the area of the Triángulo del Arte .
Building description
- Client: Fundación la Caixa , Barcelona
- Architect: Herzog & de Meuron Architects AG, Basel
- Structural engineer: WGG Schnetzer Puskas Ingenieure AG, Basel
- Construction work: NB35 Ingeniería, Madrid
- Construction time: 2001 to 2007
- Construction costs: 60 million euros
The CaixaForum with an area of 10,000 m² is divided into four upper floors, a ground-level covered area and two basement floors. The entire building structure above ground stands on the tripod formed by the access cores. On the rest of the floor plan, the building literally floats above the covered plaza, from which a main entrance staircase leads into the building. The building underside and the surface of the square were structured in relief with triangular surfaces. The shape of the roof with its distinctive incisions relates to the surrounding roof landscape of the old town.
La CaixaForum offers a wide range of activities for the public, from music and fine arts to social programs, education and humanities. It is a place for discussion, debate and opinion on various issues in today's society.
In addition to around 2,500 m² for exhibitions, the CaixaForum Madrid has an auditorium with 300 seats, foyer, media and several multifunctional rooms for conferences and other activities. The large lobby, café, shop, bookstore and restaurant complete the offer. The futuristic combination of metal, copper-colored stone and a garden by Patrick Blanc planted vertically on the wall of the house with around 15,000 plants and 250 species of plants has made the CaixaForum Madrid's new tourist magnet.
Web links
Coordinates: 40 ° 24 ′ 39.3 " N , 3 ° 41 ′ 34.4" W.