Carlos María de Castro facts for kids
Carlos María de Castro (born September 24, 1810, died November 2, 1893) was a Spanish architect, engineer, and urban planner. He is most famous for creating the big plan to expand the city of Madrid. This project was called the Ensanche (which means "expansion" or "widening").
What Was the Madrid Expansion Plan?
In 1857, the Spanish government asked Carlos María de Castro to design a new plan for Madrid. The city was growing quickly and needed more space. His plan, which was officially approved in 1860, aimed to expand Madrid beyond its old city walls.
How Was the Plan Designed?
Castro's plan took some ideas from earlier studies by Ildefons Cerdà, who had designed a similar expansion for Barcelona. However, there was a key difference. Cerdà wanted to avoid separating people by their social class in different areas. But Castro's plan suggested using different parts of the city for different purposes. This is called zoning. For example, some areas would be for homes, others for businesses, and some for factories. This also meant that different social groups might end up living in different zones.
Carlos María de Castro's work helped shape modern Madrid. His ideas for city planning were very important for how the city developed in the years that followed.
