Caixa Forum
Madrid, Spain
An historic building which, due to site constraints prohibited necessary programmatic functions and pedestrian circulation. The architectural firm of Herzon & de Meuron in lieu of demolishing the building choose to remove the building base, seemingly floating it on air to create desired circulation patterns.
The new third floor is encased in cast iron which is opposite of what one would expect as historically the lower floors are expressed as heavier elements. The massive green wall adjacent to the entry adds a softer, conflicting texture to the composition.
“Problems such as the narrowness of the surrounding streets, the placement of the main entrance, and the architectural identity of this contemporary art institution could be addressed and solved in a single urbanistic and sculptural gesture.”
– arcspace.com
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