Padilla Nicás Arquitectos

Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center

Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center 

Padilla Nicás Arquitectos

Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
© José Hevia

ARCHITECTS
Mariluz Sánchez Moral, Padilla Nicás Arquitectos

PROJECT QUANTITY SURVEYORS
Gema Campillo, Sonia Pérez, Miguel Ángel Paneda

MANUFACTURERS
Cristaleria Iberica, Desmon, Grupo Pamesa Ceramica, Tau Ceramica, Prissmacer, Ecoceramic, Geotiles, Navarti, Ledsc4, Roca, Simer S.a, Tarkett, Tempio

ARCHITECTURE STUDENT
Isidora Vásquez

ARCHITECT
Alicia Peña

STRUCTURE ENGINEER
Miguel Ángel León

PROMOTION
Dirección General De Arquitectura Y Conservación Del Patrimonio (Ayuntamiento De Madrid)

ARCHITECT AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
Ana Molina

GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Ferrovial-construcción, S.a.

PHOTOGRAPHS
José Hevia

AREA
2500 M²

YEAR
2023

LOCATION
Madrid, Spain

CATEGORY
Cultural Center, Extension

Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
© José Hevia

The opportunity to create an urban space that would connect the interior of the courtyard with a small square located on the adjacent Cartagena Street was presented to us from the outset as the fundamental objective of the project.

This new urban space would, at the same time, allow views of the rear façades of a notable building, the Casa de Baños de la Guindalera, to be recovered for the city.

To make this desire compatible with the development of the requested program of uses, the proposed new building is raised off the ground over a large part of its footprint supported by a system of slender concrete and steel pillars, creating this covered urban space, which can remain open or be closed according to the needs of use and timetable.

Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
© José Hevia
Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
© José Hevia

In this way it is possible to complete with a new building the 2,000 m2 trapezoid-shaped block in which two other buildings of very different character and date of construction are already located.

The Old Bath House (1932) converted in the early 1980s into a Cultural Centre and a building attached to the party wall (2006).

It was a key decision to maintain in the Casa de Baños the uses it already housed, such as the library, the assembly hall, and support spaces, with the clear intention of respecting the consolidated character of the building.

Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
© José Hevia
Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
© José Hevia
Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
© José Hevia

In contrast, it is in the new building where the more recreational uses are located, multi-purpose rooms and workshop, which come into play with the geometry of the ground plan, derived from the limits of the plot and the necessary setbacks to the multiple adjoining buildings.

To create the covered urban space, the structure of the new building must be strong enough to bridge large spans on the lower floors.

This requires a slab, as a first-floor ceiling, with 95 cm high ribs.

Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
© José Hevia
Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
© José Hevia
Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
© José Hevia

This structural requirement is also transferred to the upper floors since the sports halls must be able to function as a unit, which means that most of their surface area must be free of support.

In relation to the envelope, the restoration of the original mortars of the Casa de Baños gives enormous value to its rejuvenated exterior appearance, and this same finish is used on the façades of the new building, seeking a dialogue between constructions.

Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
© José Hevia
Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
© José Hevia
Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
© José Hevia

This finish, with its rough texture and slightly ochre tone, is completely visible on the lower floors, those closest visually and spatially to the Casa de Baños.

Although on the upper floors, it is covered with a system of vertical porcelain pieces, which pass in front of the openings with a certain freedom, and which relate to the exposed brickwork façades so present in the neighborhood.

Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
© José Hevia
Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
© José Hevia
Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
© José Hevia


Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
© José Hevia
Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
© José Hevia
Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
© José Hevia
Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
© José Hevia
Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
© José Hevia
Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
© José Hevia


Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
Axonometric Plan
Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
Site Plan
Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
Ground Floor Plan
Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
First Floor Plan
Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
Second Floor Plan
Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
Third Floor Plan
Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
Rooftop Plan
Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
Structural Plan


Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
Elevation Plan 1
Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
Elevation Plan 2
Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
Elevation Plan 3
Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
Elevation Plan 4


Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
Unfolded Elevation Plan
Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
Construction Detail Plan
Refurbishment and Extension of the Buenavista Cultural Center
Section Plan

Padilla Nicás Arquitectos
T +34 914 451475
Padilla Nicás Arquitectos
C. de Galileo, 16, Chamberí, 28015 Madrid, Spain