28 June 2022 · By Fran Williams. Photography by Nigel Young / Foster + Partners
Source: The Norman Foster Foundation
Ombú, an innovative exemplar of building re-use by Foster + Partners for Spanish infrastructure and energy company ACCIONA, has opened in Madrid
This retrofit project has transformed a historic industrial building and the surrounding area in Madrid to create over 10,000m² of new office space.
Private and public land is unified with green landscaping that extends to the adjoining Méndez Álvaro station.
Ombú has a 1.0 Planet Ecological Footprint, meaning its carbon emissions will be absorbed by the current capacity of the Earth. This achieves the balance of sources and sinks required by the Paris Agreement, with its environmental impact compatible with the original +2°C target.
Originally built in 1905 by the architect Luis de Landecho, who also designed Madrid’s Ritz Hotel and Athenaeum cultural institute, the building once supplied energy to the surrounding areas. It fell into disuse until ACCIONA acquired it in 2017, saving it from demolition. The 116-year-old brick-built warehouse is the only surviving building of the former Cerro de la Plata Industrial Gasification Society.
Exterior view of the building
The project capitalises on the existing loadbearing structure that supports the pitched steel trusses and the historic building envelope has been retained to conserve over 10,000 tonnes of original brick and mitigate the environmental impact.
A lightweight structure inserted into the space is made from sustainably sourced timber from local forests and allows for spatial flexibility while also integrating lighting, ventilation and other services. This timber structure aims to save more than 1,600 tonnes of CO2 and is recyclable and demountable.
A central skylight brings light to the interior, reducing the need for artificial lighting, while the glazing incorporates photovoltaic technologies that generate electricity.
To take advantage of Madrid’s temperate climate, a new courtyard offers the option to comfortably work outdoors. This connects to a large 12,400m² part with 350 trees featuring outdoor working spaces and areas for informal meetings sheltered by the tree canopy.
Local species have been selected to reduce water consumption, which will come from local sources. The new green, public space connects the building with the surrounding community and generates a positive social impact.
The AJ100 practice has worked before in the Spanish capital, most notably on the Torre Cepsa (2009). And in 2016 Foster + Partners was selected from a shortlist that included David Chipperfield and OMA to win the commission to overhaul Madrid’s iconic Hall of Realms.
Ombu brings an industrial wasteland back to a new garden in the city. Madrid's benign climate allows workspaces to be outside as well as inside, creating a flexible and desirable lifestyle. Natural materials are brought to the existing building, contributing to biophillic spaces that are good for wellbeing and productivity. Norman Foster, founder and executive chairman, Foster + Partners
Section sketch by Norman Foster
Source:The Norman Foster Foundation
The new design retains and enhances the original masonry structure, while upgrading other aspects of the building and extending its life by introducing new flexible workspaces, giving it a sustainable legacy for years to come. Taba Rasti, senior partner and co-head of the Madrid studio, Foster + Partners
Tags Foster + Partners Madrid Retrofit Spain
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