ABOUT

The proposed concept design focuses on the new use and occupancy proposed on the site, the buildings scale in relation to surrounding buildings, and the significance that the Rios Rosas building has in the history of Madrid. Within these, four key themes have been identified which will form the basis of key architectural interventions, they are summarised as:

Open
Reveal
Activate
Vary


b) Open:

The concept at street level and throughout is to make the building more accessible and ‘open’ to people upon arrival, as well as signaling that this is a building that is “open for business’ in the wider sense and in direct communication with people walking along the street, users and businesses throughout Madrid and the rest of Europe.


c) Reveal:

The existing facade cladding is largely solid or opaque. The concept for the North and South facades is to remove this and reveal the interior by making the facades more transparent.

d) Activate:

The range of different types of internal accommodation and activities will be reflected in the public faces of the building, North and South facades and entrances.

e) Vary:

In contrast to the monolithic nature of the existing building and through careful manipulation of standard facade components and interior finishes, key to the building’s success is to introduce variety along it’s length and to emphasise verticality.


f) Summary:

In combination, these elements serve to improve the current relationship between building/street, building/residents and building/users.

In the longer term, we hope that Rios Rosas will become a destination building in the city and be re-born as a positive element on the street scape and in the wider urban fabric.