Foster + Partners to Revitalise Salón de Reinos at Museo del Prado, Madrid Blooloop

Foster + Partners and Rubio Arquitectura have won the competition to transform the Hall of Realms (Salón de Reinos) at the Museo del Prado campus in Madrid.

The historic monument will be opened up and connected with underground links to public spaces and other buildings at the Prado to provide a focal point for the city.

The design will bring new life to the historic building with solar cells on the roof, new state-of-the-art galleries, terrace cafes and public spaces, as well as work to expose the original 17th century façade.

It will also create, as a setting, a new urban focus for the city of Madrid.

Commenting on the announcement, Lord Foster said, “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. The Hall of Realms, built by Crescenzi and Carbonel in the 1630’s, 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.”