Ateneo de Madrid Refurbishment

The refurbishment and restoration works are part of an ambitious program for Architecture Heritage Conservation by the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda of Spain.

The key aim of the project is to eliminate all negative impacts which influenced the building in the last century. Besides, it was updated to current accessibility standards. The restoration and reparation of the existing is driven by the idea that the original structure should be emphasized in its spatial context and original materiality. The new reflects the old without imitating it. Following the charter of Venice and for a clear reading of the whole intervention, all the new works and additions are linked by using a new and unique material: oak wood.

The whole process has been a work of “contemporary archaeology”. The existing main section of the building was equipped with skylights over the main two stairs. Those were able to articulate spatially to the complex. In the middle of the 20th century, these skylights and the double story high entrance hall were closed. The project invests most of the efforts in this main longitudinal section, in recovering its spatial configuration and returning natural light to Ateneo!

The original main section of the building was impressive with skylights over the two main staircases that could spatially articulate the complex.
In the mid-twentieth century, these skylights were closed, and now, the project invests most of the budget and efforts in this main and bright longitudinal section, to recover its spatial configuration and return natural light to Ateneo in its Bicentennial.