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Cited as the "most important Spanish urban project of the last 20 years", three million square metres of land in northern Madrid are being converted into a first-class business and residential precinct. Taking cues from similar redevelopment schemes in Europe, including London's Canary Wharf and La Défense in Paris, the project will transform an area currently characterized by industrial activities.
The revitalization initiative will be situated on land just east of the Cuatro Torres Business Area, a complex of four contemporary office towers completed in 2008. Distrito Castellana Norte Madrid is being developed through a public-private partnership that will see 25 percent of the site reserved for railway purposes, while 55 percent will be dedicated to public facilities. Over 566,000 square metres, equal to 56 football stadiums, will be earmarked for green spaces. Nearly 13 kilometres of bicycle trails seek to enhance connectivity within, to and from this rejuvenated area.
Planning and design for the project have been handled by a team of multi-disciplinary firms, including Richard Rogers Studio and ARUP Engineering, who propose executing the development in several phases. Thanks to a strong focus on mobility, residents will have access to a high-capacity transit system within 350 metres of their front door. The strategic location of the new district ensures a one-kilometre maximum distance from five existing and planned interchanges: Plaza Castilla, Chamartín, CBD Norte, Fuencarral, and Las Tablas. By incorporating a mix of metro lines, suburban rail routes, and an energy-efficient bus network, the public transport system will be able to hold 72,000 passengers per hour. Traffic flow on Paseo de la Castellana, one of Madrid's main thoroughfares, will be optimized and prioritized through the implementation of a state-of-the-art electronic system.
Intelligent water and electricity systems with built-in sensors will be installed throughout the neighbourhood. Buildings will be equipped with technologies allowing them to harness renewable solar, wind, and geothermal power. In a pioneering move, a computer system will monitor achievement of the quantifiable environmental objectives the project hopes to reach.
Project partners imagine Distrito Castellana Norte as a catalyst for growth in Madrid, attracting both locally-based companies and prominent foreign corporations. Serving as a magnet for global talent and tourists, the project looks to place Madrid on the world map of modern business hubs.
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