The new headquarters of the Chillida Foundation in Madrid is located in Madrid Río Park, at a strategic point next to the cultural hub formed by Matadero Madrid and the Palacio de Cristal de Arganzuela. The project conceived as a transitional piece that, by completing the existing urban fabric of the cultural hub, articulates the passage to the linear park of the Manzanares River.

The intervention is complemented by an outdoor sculpture garden, conceived as an open space for contemplation and meeting, where works by Chillida are exhibited. This space acts as a prelude to the museum and a natural extension of the park, reinforcing the link between art, architecture, and landscape.

The proposal a linear structure arranged perpendicular to the axis of Madrid Río park, completing the urban fabric of the Matadero area and establishing a direct connection with both the city and the Manzanares River.

The building spans the entire park area, extending beyond the riverbed to intensify its relationship with the river landscape, while opening up towards the city through a public place that acts as a threshold.

The incorporation of new pedestrian routes above ground level allows for the creation of intermediate passages, ensuring continuity of traffic through the building without interrupting pedestrian flow. In addition, the project with the voids generated by the underground infrastructure of the M-30, incorporating them as an active part of the spatial experience of the route.

The topography of the site, with a six-meter difference in elevation, determines the organization of the program on three different levels (B+II). The main program is organized around three large exhibition halls, which constitute the core of project functionally and conceptually. Each of these rooms is designed with a distinct spatial character, inspired by the work of Chillida: shadows on surfaces, the search for light, and the emptiness of the material. The rest of the program is arranged around these rooms, complementing them.

The leave floor, located at the level of place entrance +1.20 m), is closely connected to the underground tunnels, distributing the program across a 3-meter-wide strip that houses the service areas. 

On the first floor, at park level (+6.20 m), there is one of the exhibition halls, with complementary projection spaces and a cafeteria.

Finally, on the second floor (+11.20 m), the remaining two rooms are located, completing a continuous, circular museum tour and thus creating an experience for the visitor.

The different sections show the building's direct relationship with its surroundings through two large cantilevers: one facing the river and the other facing the place access place . These features consolidate the two fronts of the building and reinforce its status as a threshold between the natural and the built environment. The play of heights on the roof responds to the specific needs of each space, generating different light inputs depending on the program they house.

In the rooms, the concrete structure of edge beams is sample , lending character and uniqueness to the exhibition spaces. In contrast, the rest of the building features a continuous suspended ceiling with vertical charred wood cladding. This difference in materials and structure allows each conference room its own atmosphere, creating a dialogue and contrast between the structure, Chillida's work, and the materiality of the space.  

In terms of composition, the project conceived as a Issue , with a ventilated façade of granite slabs with openings where required by the program, reinforcing the idea of transition between the cultural hub of Matadero and the Madrid Río linear park. The structure is resolved by means of a system of reinforced concrete porticos that organize the space and resolve the large cantilevers. 

The various construction details reveal the interplay between Materials , wood, and granite—as well as how the enclosure meets thermal, acoustic, and durability criteria.

final, the project Chillida's work from an architectural perspective: light, emptiness, and shadow combine to create a space for contemplation and meeting.

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