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The globally recognized architecture firm Foster + Partners has won an international design competition to renovate and revitalize Madrid's historic Hall of Realms (Salón de Reinos) in advance of its incorporation into the Museo del Prado campus, Spain's main national art museum. The grand structure is one of the only surviving sections of Palacio del Buen Retiro, which was built in the 17th century for Philip IV of Spain as a second residence and grounds for recreation.
"On behalf of the team that I led at Foster + Partners in collaboration with Rubio Arquitectura, I would like to say how honoured we are to contribute to this next phase of the expansion of the Prado — one of the truly great museums of the world," said Norman Foster. "The Hall of Realms, built by Crescenzi and Carbonel in the 1630s, is one of the very few remains of the former palace and predates the museum which was conceived in 1819. Two centuries later the transformation and expansion of this historic hall will add significant new galleries and related public spaces to the Prado. It will also create, as a setting, a new urban focus for the city of Madrid."
The winning scheme aims to renew the building's importance as a public cultural asset, with refreshed interiors and new state-of-the-art gallery spaces planned to enliven the visitor experience. The original three-storey southern facade will be recovered through the removal of floor slabs, which will then create a new indoor public space within the structure. The outer walls are then opened up to permit maximum views and light penetration.
The north side of the refurbished complex, which will be made more permeable through the provision of a new public route, would host a grouping of animated terrace cafes. A new roof above the double-height exhibition hall will accomplish numerous pragmatic tasks, from energy harvesting by solar cells to shading and protection of the southern facade via a cantilevered extension.
Seven other practices were selected to produce preliminary proposals. The shortlist included big names in the world of architecture, including the Office for Metropolitan Architecture and David Chipperfield Architects. The competition was launched with a target completion date of 2019 to coincide with the museum's 200th anniversary celebrations.
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