The abandoned industrial building of the Clesa Factory, which closed its doors for good back in 2012 after nearly two years in bankruptcy proceedings, is set to become the "Matadero" of northern Madrid. The industrial site, located at 67 Avenida de Cardenal Herrera Oria, was designed in 1959 by architect Alejandro de la Sota and officially opened in 1962. The former dairy plant's 37,928 square meters are now being transferred to the Madrid City Council, which aims to convert the space into a major “cultural container.”
The main building—bright, lightweight, and one of the first to use a prestressed concrete structure—is currently being studied by the Commission for the Protection of Historical, Artistic, and Natural Heritage [CPPHAN], with the sole goal of having it listed as part of the Madrid City Heritage. Back in 2015, the commission had already supported protecting several of its elements, including the two central bays, its vertical and horizontal load-bearing structure, the floor slabs, the roof, and the main facade.
The remaining 88,702 square meters of the complex, owned by developer Metrovacesa, will be used for offices, shops, tourist apartments, and residences for resident physicians [MIR] at the Ramón y Cajal Hospital, located just a few meters from the plot. The previous municipal government had intended to change the zoning of the plot from industrial to residential. According to José Manuel Calvo, Councilor for Sustainable Urban Development [DUS], the "Ahora Madrid" administration halted the project because it believed it was a “mistake to put housing in buildings like this; the city received nothing in return.”
With the specific amendment to the General Urban Development Plan approved on Thursday, April 4, the City Council secures the transfer of the nearly 38,000-square-meter space, changing its use from industrial to tertiary. The municipally owned portion, which corresponds to the main factory building, will be used for “public community facilities that guarantee social and cultural services.”
This amendment to the General Plan also includes expanding the Ramón y Cajal commuter rail station, providing access to the complex and connecting it to the university hospital. A footbridge will also be built to connect both sides of the railway tracks.
These plans lay the groundwork for the future of the former Clesa Factory. However, the administrative timelines for urban planning remain slow. It will take at least nine months to a year for the final approval of the amendment to the General Plan. After that, the "management instruments will need to be developed," which will inevitably add more months to the wait.
Source: ‘EL PAÍS’
This article was written by Borja Fernández. The translation is powered by AI.
