Casa de las Flores facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Casa de las Flores
General information
Location	Chamberí
Address	Calle de Hilarión Eslava 2 28015 Madrid, España
Design and construction
Architect	Secundino Zuazo Ugalde

The Casa de las Flores (which means House of Flowers) is a famous apartment building in the Chamberí area of Madrid, Spain. It was designed by a talented architect named Secundino Zuazo in 1931.

This building is special because of how its spaces are planned, especially with a garden area in the middle. This design has been a great example for students studying architecture for many years. The building is located on a corner where several streets meet. Its name comes from the pretty balconies that are often decorated with flower boxes.

Some famous people have lived here. The well-known poet Pablo Neruda lived in the Casa de las Flores in 1934. The writer Emilio Carrere also lived there until he passed away. In 1981, the building began the process of being recognized as a bien de interés cultural, which means it's an important cultural heritage site.

History of the House of Flowers

The idea for the Casa de las Flores might have come from a German architect named Michael Fleischer. He worked with Secundino Zuazo during those years. The building was paid for by a bank called Banco Hispano Colonial, with help from a national institute.

This house was an early part of a big plan to expand the city of Madrid. It was finished just as the Second Spanish Republic was declared, which was a new government in Spain.

When Pablo Neruda became a consul (a type of diplomat) in Madrid in 1934, his friend Rafael Alberti helped him find this house to live in. During the Spanish Civil War, there was a big battle nearby called the Battle of Ciudad Universitaria. The Casa de las Flores was badly damaged because of this fighting.

After the war, the house was repaired in the 1940s. Later, in 1981, it was officially declared a National Monument. This means it is a protected historical site.

What Makes the Building Special

The Casa de las Flores is a five-story building made of brick. The ground floor has a series of rounded arches. These arches match up with the supports for the building and the windows of some shops.

Inside, there are two hundred and eighty-eight apartments. These homes are arranged around three garden courtyards. The central courtyard is the largest one. The apartments are set up in two long blocks that run parallel to each other. The staircases connect these blocks like bridges.

See also

In Spanish: Casa de las Flores (Madrid) para niños