Madrid, Spain

Led by studio head Nigel Dancey of the American Prize for Design laureate office of Foster + Partners, this renovation calls for the restoration of a historic industrial building built in 1905 by Luis for Acciona S.A.—a Spanish sustainable infrastructure and energy company.

Officially called Acciona Ombú, the project will contain over 10,000 square-metres of new office space.

It will also will unify a unique mix of private and public land with green landscaping led by landscape architect K8 Paisajismo that extends to the adjoining Méndez Álvaro station.

The project creates a sustainable exemplar for building reuse and breathes new life into the surrounding area.

Originally built as a natural gas plant that supplied energy to the surrounding areas, the building had fallen into disuse until Acciona acquired it in 2017.

The new proposals will conserve over 10,000 tonnes of brick, rehabilitating the building envelope and the soaring interior volume.

The introduction of a series of stepped floors creates terraces sheltered under the historic roof.

Made from timber sustainably sourced from local forests, the lightweight structure allows for spatial flexibility, while also integrating lighting, ventilation and other services within.

The timber structure will save more than 1,000 tonnes of CO2 and is recyclable and demountable.

A central skylight brings natural light to the interior, reducing the need for energy-consuming artificial light while also incorporating silicon plates that generate electricity.

The choice of natural and recycled materials such as timber is not only sustainable but also contributes to a biophilic environment.

Recent studies have shown that the use of natural materials in working environments improves
wellbeing and productivity.

The building is located inside Madrid’s Calle 30 (orbital motorway) with direct access to public transport (bus, train, metro).

Taking advantage of Madrid’s temperate climate, where people can comfortably be outdoors for nine months of the year, the project includes a new courtyard within which is a new ground floor space with a garden roof.

This leads to a large 10,000 square-metre park with 300 trees with outdoor working spaces and areas for informal meetings sheltered by a green canopy of trees.

Local species have been carefully selected to reduce water consumption, which will come from recycled sources.

“This project offers the rare opportunity to give this magnificent building a new lease of life,” states Nigel Dancey, Foster + Partners’ head of studio.

“It is a great example of Luis de Landecho’s early 20th-Century work, and our design aims to retain its original spirit, while creating a workplace that is flexible and adaptable to new and emerging ways of working.”

“Together with Acciona, we have developed a design that is underpinned by our shared vision of sustainability and demonstrates our commitment towards the environment.”

The project is slated for completion in 2022.

Architects: Foster + Partners
Original Architect: Luis de Landecho (1905)
Landscape Architects: K8 Paisajismo
Client: Acciona S.A.