Arturo Franco and Fabrice van Teslaar, in collaboration with interior architect Diego Castellanos, are the authors of the refurbishment of 2,700 m2 of floor space intended for different uses. As the building was in a state of ruin when they found it, the architectural project explored the possibilities of rehabilitating it and in fact provided a new perspective on how to intervene in the historical heritage in a way that reduces any such intervention to the bare minimum. The basic concept of the project was the search for a balance between showing respect for the identity of the place itself and the incorporation of new elements capable of transforming its functionality. To this end, they decided to use industrial materials in their raw state or with only minimal modifications. The intervention won the Building Rehabilitation Award in the 21st edition of the Urban Planning, Architecture and Public Works Awards 2006 of the Madrid City Council and in 2018 it received the COAM +10 Award.

This rectangular 881 m2 space, the former cold store of the municipal slaughterhouse, retains its original architectural layout, consisting of 36 reinforced concrete pillars arranged in four rows thus dividing the space into five sections. Nine horseshoe arches rest on the pillars of the central nave, supporting a brick vault. This space still retains its original appearance and its original hydraulic tile floor, as well as signs of a fire that broke out in the 1990s. Characterised by its diaphanous structure of cantilevered arches and columns, the elements that give this space its intimate character have been conserved and consolidated thanks to a policy of minimum intervention.

Central de Diseño’s work consisted of maintaining the strength of the constructive decomposition of the elements by incorporating recycled and recyclable materials: removable polycarbonate for the light wall, industrial panels made from recycled car bumpers on the floor, galvanised iron and glass. This L-shaped complex regularly hosts exhibitions, festivals and workshops, and its different rooms also house a classroom, offices and storage space.

This 5,900 m2 theatre complex (Naves 11 and 12) is the result of an interdisciplinary collaboration between theatre director Mario Gas, set designer Jean Guy Lecat (who has worked with Peter Brook in transforming a wide range of locations - a gas depot, a quarry or an abandoned factory - into extraordinary scenic spaces), technical set designer Francisco Fontanals, and municipal architect Emilio Esteras. Guided by the principles of reversibility, flexibility and versatility, the intervention endowed the space with myriad scenic configurations, introducing new elements and materials (polycarbonate and a scaffolding structure) that are juxtaposed to the existing ones and allow a clear reading of the interventions. A new space, Nave 10, was added to the theatre complex in 2009. Architect Justo Benito was in charge of its refurbishment.

This building consists of a multi-purpose space on the upper floor, called El Taller (The Workshop), and an office on the ground floor. The architectural project is designed in such a way as to respect the original spatial configuration by intervening in a highly effective way using only a few elements. The interior spaces are clad with flat tiles that were recovered from the roof, which was in poor condition. The original tile roof was replaced and the entire inner space was reinforced by and finished with reclaimed wooden beams. The most innovative aspect of the work carried out is the fact that it is a bioclimatic project: the tiles contribute to the thermal, acoustic and sustainable comfort of the building, which has been reinvented with elements taken from the surrounding area.

Even though they are quite unique, Matadero Madrid is much more than just its buildings: it is also blessed with outdoor spaces that are just as interesting as the buildings themselves due to their size and urban quality. The two large pedestrian spaces, Plaza Matadero and Calle Matadero, act as the cultural centre’s great agora and forum. They are two spaces that are open to the public and serve to articulate the distribution of the different institutions that coexist within Matadero. They can be accessed from different points: Plaza de Legazpi, Paseo de la Chopera, Junta de Arganzuela (the District Council) and Madrid Río Park. Designed as a pedestrian precinct, Calle Matadero is paved with cobblestones and granite footpaths on the same level, ideal for visitors to enjoy a stroll and the fresh air Devoid of trees and unlike any other space in the city of Madrid, Plaza Matadero is a large, empty, open space that has become an iconic venue for large-scale outdoor activities such as concerts, festivals and markets.

Nave 16 is a versatile space of more than 4,000 m2 divided into independent modules by large steel panels. As these panels can be moved by simply turning them, they ensure that the nave is multi-purpose and provide it with versatility in terms of lighting and ambience, making it adaptable to whatever activity is taking place inside. In this way, the architectural project transformed the building into a large multi-purpose space and, at the same time, into a set of five smaller independent spaces. The chromatism and texture of the tall steel panels stand in contrast to the tectonic and timeless character of the building’s stone and brick envelope. When the panels are opened, a characteristic structure of thin metal profiles can be appreciated inside the envelope.

The elevated water tank was restored and structurally reinforced in order to conserve what is one of the site’s most iconic elements. Freed of its original functionality, it is now a visual landmark and one of the cultural centre’s main elements of communication. A new lighting system, the labelling of the tank and its transformation into a welcoming space define this public access to Matadero Madrid from Legazpi. A garden of selected plants has been laid out on a platform between the pillars of the tank’s shaft.

Covering an area of 2,688 m2, the work that was carried out on Cineteca Madrid managed to preserve the existing spatial structure which was transformed and distributed into five different spaces: two screening rooms, a film set, an archive and a canteen. There is also an outdoor terrace. The old and the new coexist in an atmosphere of half-light in which artificial LED lights and film screenings are of the essence. Worthy of mention within the complex are the baskets that have been woven from irrigation hoses to serve as a luminescent element that throws light onto the ceilings and walls of the screening rooms and the archive.

The essential aim of this architectural project was to connect people, both the general public and professionals, as well as ideas, spaces and places. With their elongated design, Naves 13 and 14 are connected transversally by means of pre-stressed concrete beam bridges, creating a meeting point between the two structures. The Casa del Lector, which covers an area of rather more than 8,000 m2, hosts activities related to reading and literature in general, ranging from printed paper to new media and from the linguistic to the audiovisual, paying special interest to the role played by new technologies and media. In order to carry out its activities, the Casa del Lector has training rooms, a library and consultation area, workshops, rooms designed to encourage people to read, radio and TV sets, an exhibition room and an auditorium that can seat 300 people.