Emilio Ambasz
The new museum will be located at 30 Paseo del Prado, at the corner of Prado-Recoletos, a prime real estate location known as the “Art Mile.”
In a press conference after the signing of the agreement, the architect showed a scale model of the building, which will require a complete renovation due to the state of abandonment and poor storage conditions the building presents.
A substantial modernization will follow to put in place the necessary settings for exhibitions and cultural activities. Ambasz said the remodeling alone would require an estimated 4.5 million euros (5.8 million dollars). The facade will be replaced with a “vertical garden” that will provide waterproofing and insulation, and the roof will be covered in vegetation to absorb and recycle rainwater. The interior will be bright and spacious, with four floors (8,600 square feet) for exhibitions, and a fifth floor that will house a restaurant.
“Madrid is one of my favorite places because of its location and its architecture. The idea of creating a museum in Spain stems from my bond with this country, where I am a citizen by royal grant and have undertaken internationally-recognized projects such as the “Centro de Retiro Espiritual” in Seville, which was part of the exhibition shown at the “Centro Nacional de Arte Contemporáneo Reina Sofía” in Madrid and at the MOMA in New York. I am hugely proud to be able to broaden the cultural offer of this beautiful city and leave a legacy for those who are passionate about architecture as art,” Emilio Ambasz, said.
Model of Museum of Art, Architecture, Design and Urbanism.
Ambasz pointed out that in order to be classified as “green,” a building should have more than a structure that avoids rainwater waste; it must also be able to save energy. The architect went on to say he would work with a Spanish architect—preferably young— to oversee the works, although he had not chosen the candidate when the agreement was signed.
The Museum will host a permanent collection of art, architecture and revolutionary and sustainable urbanism, as well as temporary exhibitions and a virtual library. It will also serve as a convention center devoted to art that encourages the fusion between architecture and nature.
This is not the first museum “donated” by Emilio Ambasz. The design of Buenos Aires’s Museum of Modern Art was also a gift from the architect, construction took 14 years. Ambasz hopes the Museum of Art, Architecture, Design and Urbanism in Madrid will be completed as quickly and efficiently as possible. ■
