The international architecture festival Open House Madrid returns with a surprise for 2022, offering free access to five “magical” locations to enjoy the city from above, from September 23 to 25.
Below, we present them so you don't miss out.
Hotel Pestana / Estudio b76
Located in the building known as the “Casa de la Carnicería” in Plaza Mayor, this hotel—which has witnessed the city's evolution for over 400 years—is a historic renovation that blends the sober style of the Hapsburg era with the French influence of the Bourbons.
Open House Madrid opens the doors to its rooftop and also provides access to the building's balconies, allowing visitors to appreciate the views of the surroundings and, above all, the Plaza Mayor—with its legacy of Islamic art, its Baroque lighting, and the Herrerian-style staircases with which it was rebuilt in the 17th century.
Spanish Cultural Heritage Institute / Fernando Higueras and Antonio Miró
Located in Ciudad Universitaria, this building was commissioned in 1965 to architects Fernando Higueras and Antonio Miró. They designed a four-story, reinforced concrete project that stands out for its circular plan and its crown-like cornice featuring large spikes, earning it the nickname “Crown of Thorns” (Corona de Espinas). In 2001, it was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest, making it one of the most significant works of Spanish architecture of the last century.
Open House Madrid allows public access to its top floor, offering a unique opportunity to reach the rooftop and discover its architectural secrets while enjoying a view as unique as the project itself.
Arnaiz Building / ARNAIZ Team
With a New York-inspired avant-garde style, the twelve-story office building's glass facade stands out on Méndez Álvaro Street due to its broken cube shape, which allows the interior to be seen from the outside, a feature that is especially striking at night. Its cantilevered roof, which covers the “fractured” detail of the cube, is also particularly notable.
Open House Madrid opens the doors to its rooftop, allowing visitors to walk across it and contemplate the urban transformation that southern Madrid has undergone from the industrial architecture of the late 19th century to the present day.
Castellana 81 Tower / Francisco Javier Sáenz de Oiza
This office building is located in the AZCA area on Paseo de la Castellana, a financial district designed as a skyscraper master plan in the mid-1950s, inspired by New York's Rockefeller Center. Construction of the area's first buildings began in the 1970s, with highlights including Torre Europa, Torre Picasso, and the building in question: Castellana 81 Tower. Its architect, Sáenz de Oiza, was one of the most prominent figures in Spanish architecture of the second half of the 20th century. In 2018, it was renovated by Ruiz Barbarín Arquitectos - ARQUIMANIA.
Open House Madrid provides access to the top floors of this building to take in the unique views they offer.
Hotel Hyatt Centric / Blue Sky Hospitality + López de Tena Arquitectos
This luxury hotel is located on Madrid's most important street, Gran Vía. Designed by the London-based studio Blue Sky Hospitality and the Madrid-based interior design firm López de Tena Arquitectos, the project contains an intriguing historical scar: a beam that preserves the traces of a bombing from the Spanish Civil War. It also preserves the architectural value of the historic Art Deco building, including its 1920s facade, the entrance portico, and the iconic spiral staircases with hand-crafted railings—all integrated with a design that evokes traditional Madrid popular culture, its artistic icons, and local landscapes.
Open House Madrid opens its doors so visitors can enjoy the culinary offerings of its restaurant, “El Jardín de Diana,” while taking in views of the Madrid skyline.
This article was written by Mili Sánchez Azcona. The translation is powered by AI.
