Banco Santander Headquarter

Half a city block on Castellana—the monumental boulevard of Madrid—was to be converted into the seat and headquarters of the Banco Santander, Spain’s biggest private bank.The block consists of protected historical apartment
buildings whose facades and structures had to be kept. Old buildings with different floor levels surround in a U-shape a central court area. While the historical structures have been rehabilitated and converted into offices, a new large central structure was inserted into the former court area—acting as a reception hall and distribution area—with a monumental interior rotunda, a contemporary inside facade in lieu of the missing outside one, a new component, providing additional office space and connection to the various levels of the existing buildings. On ground level, a lavish entrance area has been provided, in both the old and the new part, which is accessed by a bridge over the lower level.