Contemporary design and character of a historic building in the centre of Madrid

Among the services offered by KALAM, the integral rehabilitation of buildings stands out. We refer to interventions in which our professionals cover a large number of works and scope in a single action to return a use or allow a new one in the best conditions of safety, habitability and functionality. Usually, these works include structural reinforcements or consolidations; improvement or updating of the envelope: roofs, façades and contact of the building with the ground, solving its pathology or improving its energy efficiency; restoration of singular elements recovering its ornamentation and original elements in historical façades or relevant spaces such as accesses, stairs or common rooms; updating and adaptation of the interiors to regulations, including new distributions and finishes or adaptations in terms of accessibility, among other works.

Within this framework, one of the key and differentiating factors is that we have our own staff of professionals and masters of the necessary trades in a comprehensive intervention. This means that we can ensure the deadlines and quality of the work from a comprehensive management and a holistic view of the entire process, only possible through a structure and experience such as those offered by KALAM. We provide our clients with an ad hoc service to suit their needs, being used to working on buildings in use, programming the work to reduce inconvenience or collaborating with their project design teams on the specific part of the restoration or conservation of the historic building to propose possible technical solutions, analyses or assessments.

Having our own staff of professionals and masters of the necessary trades in a comprehensive intervention allows us to ensure the deadlines and quality of the work from a holistic management and vision of the entire process.

Our team is always very satisfied to be able to collaborate in the conservation of these buildings of our built heritage, which are inhabited with updated or new uses, adapted to current standards and to which they add their character and beauty. And especially when this sensitive way of acting comes from the direction and promotion of the proposal, as in this case, by ELAIA INVESTMENT SPAIN SOCIMI S.A. and its management team. A vision shared by all those involved in the development of the work that allows the building not to lose its identity, but to recover and integrate it, giving great personality to the proposal while respecting its historical protection.

Views of the façade towards Atocha street during the works and with the current finish.

Views of the façade facing Magdalena Street during the restoration process and during the final works.

Various aspects of the façade finish: state before and after the intervention on the façade towards calle Magdalena and recovery of the ornamentation of the cornice on calle Atocha.

In this entry, we summarise some aspects of the comprehensive refurbishment of the building located at Calle Atocha number 40, with a façade also facing calle Magdalena at number 27, in accordance with the execution project drawn up by GAZTELU ARQUITECTOS in collaboration with JULIO PRADO. In the course of the works, the different spaces and elements of the building have been intervened to house high quality housing, including the improvement of its accessibility.

The building dates from the late 19th century and is located in the historic centre of the Villa de Madrid in the area of the Cerca y Arrabal de Felipe II. Among the aspects of compulsory restoration are the façades facing the public road, the access passage to the building and the core of the imperial staircase, in which the original elements that make these common spaces so unique have been preserved.

Inside, the layout has been modified, resulting in high-quality, comfortable homes with all the necessary equipment. Pre-existing elements have been preserved and integrated into the final design, such as the decorations in some rooms, which maintain the character of the building in the final result. It is also worth highlighting the great transparency and luminosity of the spaces, especially in the penthouses, whose private terraces are sunny open-air rooms overlooking the landscape of historic Madrid.

Previous and recovered state of the unique staircase protected as a common space.

Intervention work on the pre-existing timber structure during the works.

Recovered entrance vestibule, located at the access from Calle Atocha 40

With regard to the technical intervention, the building had structural, plumbing and maintenance pathologies, as well as the conservation of the façade and the cladding of the courtyards. The restoration and reinforcement of the carpentry elements and wooden structure were some of the most important works carried out. In the recovery of the wooden floor slabs, the deteriorated main beams have been replaced, the decking has been repaired and those parts in poor condition, such as races or sleepers, have been replaced. Given the state of many of the pre-existing wooden structures, it has also been decided in the recovery of these traditional floor slabs to apply a reinforcement layer of 7 cm compression and the placement of OSB type waterproof board.

As part of the specific work to consolidate this building, the wooden load-bearing walls were also reinforced with laminated profiles. The structure of the sleepers and main beams has also been restored, replacing those parts in poor condition and splicing, bracing and strapping the new and pre-existing elements with the aid of metal parts. In those elements that could be conserved, the pieces were sanded and cleaned, and then the surface of the lignified element was primed with an anti-fungus product, and the cracks and faults identified were filled in.

Another of the significant works has been the restoration of the exterior walls and their characteristic elements, especially the plaster finishes, restitution and restoration of decorative elements and cornices, the current closings and balconies, the replacement or restoration of carpentry and shutters and the restoration of the exterior of the commercial premises, respecting as far as possible the current carpentry as a sign of their visual identity. The structural consolidation of the block towards calle Magdalena has also been carried out, with the rooftop creating an extraordinarily beautiful communal area with a solarium and swimming pool from which a beautiful view of the historic centre can be enjoyed.

Various aspects of an attic where the great luminosity of the rooms can be appreciated.

The uniqueness of the common areas of this building recovered in all its splendour.

Rooms of a mid-floor dwelling where the high quality of finishes and equipment is evident.

Thanks to this intervention it has been possible to recover this listed building while employing materials and finishes of excellent quality for its refurbishment for unique dwellings within a proposal and execution characterised by its technical rigour and respect for the pre-existing heritage. The building located at Atocha 40 recovers the traditional architecture characteristic of Madrid’s historic centre in its optimum state and refurbished by improving its accessibility and the spatial quality of its dwellings, equipped with all the modern facilities necessary for absolute comfort. All of this is bathed in the characteristic light of Madrid, which the homes overlook from their privileged balconies.

Recovery of the listed heritage and the character of a historic building in the heart of Madrid in its optimum conditions with the comfort standards of the present.