Project 2001-2003Realization 2003-2008
A Magnet
The CaixaForum is conceived as an urban magnet attracting not only art-lovers but all people of Madrid and from outside. The attraction will not only be CaixaForum’s cultural program, but also the building itself, insofar that its heavy mass, is detached from the ground in apparent defiance of the laws of gravity and, in a real sense, draws the visitors inside.
A New Address for the Arts
The CaixaForum-Madrid stands on an advantageous site facing the Paseo del Prado and the Botanical Garden vis à vis. This new address for the arts is located in an area occupied until now by unspectacular urban structures, the Central Eléctrica Power Station, and a gas station. The classified brick walls of the former power station are reminiscences of the early industrial age in Madrid, while the gas station, a purely functional structure, was clearly out of place. Like a vineyard that could never develop its full potential because it was planted with the wrong grape, this prominent location could not develop its full potential. The demolition of the gas station created a small plaza between the Paseo del Prado and the new CaixaForum in the converted power station.
A Spectacular Transformation
The only material of the old power station that we could use was the classified brick shell. In order to conceive and insert the new architectural components of the CaixaForum, we began with a surgical operation, separating and removing the base and the parts of the building no longer needed. This opened a completely novel and spectacular perspective that simultaneously solved a number of problems posed by the site. The removal of the base of the building left a covered plaza under the brick shell, which now appears to float above the street level. This sheltered space under the CaixaForum offers shade to visitors who want to spend time or meet outside, and at the same time, it is the entrance to the Forum itself. Problems such as the narrowness of the surrounding streets, the placement of the main entrance, and the architectural identity of this contemporary art institution are addressed and solved in a single urban and sculptural gesture.
A Construction below and a Construction above Ground
The separation of the structure from the ground level creates two worlds: one below and the other above the ground. The “underworld” buried beneath the topographically landscaped plaza provides space for a theater/auditorium, service rooms, and several parking spaces. The multi-storied building above ground houses the entrance lobby and galleries, a restaurant and administrative offices. There is a contrast between the flexible and loft-like character of the exhibition spaces and the spatial complexity of the top floor with its restaurant /bar and the offices. The surprising sculptural aspect of the CaixaForum’s silhouette is no mere architectural fancy, but reflects the roofscape of the surrounding buildings.
Herzog & de Meuron, 2008
卡伊莎文化中心
卡伊莎文化中心证明了彻底的改造而不是拆除能够创造出当代特征明显而同时又与历史联系紧密的建筑。由瑞士建筑师赫尔佐格和德梅隆设计的这座文化中心对建于1899年的一座电厂建筑进行了扩建和去除。他们在先前已经生锈的从墙体延续至顶部的钢铁部分添加了扩展覆盖层，同时通过切去首层去除了建筑底部。建筑体块像反重力般飘浮在地面之上。由此获得的新建筑与其城市文脉搭配得宜，它的存在显得微妙，而不是宏大或对抗性的。由法国植物学家帕特里克·布朗设计的绿墙“有生命的画”是覆盖在画廊硬立面外的一层薄箔。两者明显都是人造产物：一个由植物构成，另一个用砖和钢筑成。
The CaixaForum has been conceived as a magnet attracting the art-lovers of Madrid and from out of town. The attraction will not only be its cultural program, but also the building and the site itself. The heavy mass of the existing structure, with its old brick outer walls, and the sculptural cast-iron cladding, will be detached from the ground in apparent defiance of gravity and, in a real sense, draw the visitors inside.
The building will stand on an advantageous site facing the Prado. This new address for the arts will be located in an area occupied until now by unspectacular crowded urban spaces and structures, including the power station itself, and a gas station. The classified brick walls of the former power station are reminiscences of the early industrial age in Madrid, while the garage, a purely functional structure, is clearly out of place. Like a vineyard that could never develop its full potential because it was planted with the wrong grape sort, this prominent location is wasted on these buildings. The demolition of the garage will create a small plaza between the Paseo del Prado and the new CaixaForum in the converted power station.
The only material of the old power station that can still be used today is the classified brick shell. To insert the new architectural components of the new project, the first step was a virtual surgical operation, separating and removing the base and the parts of the building no longer needed. This opened a completely novel and spectacular perspective that simultaneously solved a number of problems posed by the site. The removal of the base of the building leaves an open, but covered space under the brick shell, which now appears to float above the street level. This sheltered space under the CaixaForum offers its shade to visitors who want to spend time or meet outside and is at the same time the entrance itself. Problems such as the narrowness of the surrounding streets, the placement of the main entrance, and the architectural identity of this contemporary art institution can be addressed and solved in a single urbanistic and sculptural gesture.
The separation of the structure from the ground level creates two worlds: one below and the other above the ground. The “underworld” will provide space for a theater/auditorium, service rooms, and several parking places. The building above ground will house the entrance hall/lounge and galleries, with a restaurant and administrative offices on the top floor.
