The future of the Columbus Towers ‘plug’
A new year is upon us, a round year, a year that somehow feels like it’s going to be significant, a definitive year, filled with novelties, transformations and great projects.
If only a few weeks ago NASA presented a drone with which it will travel to Mars in summer to better explore the nature and geology of the Red Planet, here in Spain the most exciting projects are of a slightly smaller scale or, at least, not as globally important. They will nevertheless have a significant local impact and many important construction works will soon become the talk of the town.
One of these is the transformation planned for the Columbus Towers. These towers, which belong to Mutua Madrileña and are known for being shaped like a plug at the top, were one of the most iconic buildings of the 20th century, designed by architect Antonio Lamela, whose fame and reputation are beyond reproach.
The plug has become a well-known part of the skyline, but now the project put forward by Luis Vidal, an architect with many important national and international projects under his belt, may put an end to that.
Despite the criticism, Luis Vidal’s studio claims the aim of the transformation is to take an iconic work of the 20th century and turn into an iconic work of the 21st century. The new design is based on energy efficiency and will result in a building with almost no consumption.
Now the debate is centred around whether the original design should be somehow preserved and whether the new one will be able to maintain the existing structure. In any case, any attempt to change something that’s always been around is bound to be controversial.
Categories: Madrid Cultura
