The Martín Caballero Architecture Studio has been chosen by the Pozuelo City Council to shape one of the most iconic works of the moment in the Community of Madrid: the new Congress Palace and the fairgrounds of the richest municipality in Spain.

This has just been announced by the council led by Paloma Tejero, which last autumn launched a competition, to which 17 national and international studios entered, interested in designing these two new symbols of the Madrid skyline.

In April, the five finalists were selected: Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, Enrique Bardají y Asociados, Estudio Martín Caballero, Mangado y Asociados, and Vaillo-Irigaray y Asociados. All of them presented their final proposals under a pseudonym or motto that guarantees the anonymity of the contest candidates.

The winner was Coro, the name behind which is the Martín Caballero Studio, the same one that designed the Zielo de Pozuelo shopping center, located right in front of where the Palace and the fairgrounds are going to be built.

Alberto Martín Caballero was the author, together with the late Luis García Cereceda, of the La Finca urbanization and his work is about two-thirds of the exclusive homes that irrigate this elitist residential enclave, in addition to the famous business park and the Reebok center. A curriculum to which starting this Tuesday will add one of the most desired projects of any architect: a unique building in a large municipality.

The criteria for selecting the candidates have been experience in carrying out projects of more than 15,000 square meters and of a residential nature, solvency in urban planning, and awards or distinctions. Demanding requirements that are explained by the emblematic nature of this project for Pozuelo, in particular, and for all of Madrid, in general.

Located at the gates of the capital, the future palace and fairgrounds are destined to attract the interest of companies, organizations and associations throughout the Community of Madrid, due to its proximity, uniqueness, dimensions and architecture.

The future Conference Center will have a main auditorium with capacity for 1,500 people and a secondary auditorium for 500 spectators. In addition, it will have 550 parking spaces, spread over two underground floors, multipurpose classrooms, a cafeteria, an exhibition forum, dressing rooms, offices, an interior garden, VIP rooms and a terrace with views of Madrid.

To finance this work, which has an estimated cost of around 70 million euros, the Pozuelo City Council will put it out to concession. The winner of this new competition will operate the entire complex for several years, but must respect Martín Caballero’s project in its entirety. The future building will also have the highest energy efficiency certifications.

Regarding the new fairground, Martín Caballero conceives it as a public square, with a park of fountains and movable planters that, thanks to the rails that will run along the entire esplanade, can be moved to the ends and leave all the space free. for the days of events, fairs or concerts that are organized.

In this way, every day that there is not a scheduled activity, it will function as an urban park open to all citizens. Last December, the Pozuelo City Council already approved the conditioning works project, which includes the creation of a new access road, execution of interior pedestrian and vehicle accesses.

As a nod to Pozuelo, the floor of the fairgrounds has been divided into three large blocks, each painted with one of the city’s colors: gold, red and blue. At the back is the space reserved to host the stage when concerts or events that require it are organized.