Edificio España facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Edificio España |
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Edificio España seen from Plaza de España
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| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | Hotel |
| Location | Plaza de España 1, Madrid, España |
| Coordinates | 40°25′27″N 3°42′43″W / 40.42417°N 3.71194°W |
| Construction started | 1948 |
| Completed | 4 October 1953 |
| Owner | RIU Hotels |
| Height | |
| Roof | 117 m (384 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 25 |
| Lifts/elevators | 32 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Julián Otamendi |
| Structural engineer | Joaquín Otamendi |
The Hotel Riu Plaza España is a famous skyscraper in Madrid, Spain. It is the 8th tallest building in the city. This impressive building first opened in 1953. Back then, it was known as the Edificio España, which means "Spain Building."
It was designed to be a mix of many things: a hotel, offices, apartments, and shops. The building shows off a special style called neo-baroque, which was popular in the 20th century. In 2017, a Spanish hotel company called RIU Hotels bought the building. They turned it into a hotel, and it reopened its doors in 2019.
Contents
A Look at the History of Edificio España
The Edificio España was designed by an architect named Julián Otamendi and his brother. They built it in the Neo-baroque style. Construction started in 1948 and finished in 1953. For many years, it was seen as a sign of success and growth in Spain.
When it was finished, the Edificio España was the tallest building in Spain. It had 25 floors and stood 117 meters (384 feet) tall. However, it only held this record until 1957. That's when the Torre de Madrid, another building designed by Otamendi, became even taller.
The building used to have a large hotel called the Hotel Plaza. It also had 300 offices, 184 apartments, and a shopping center. There was even a swimming pool on the roof! The Edificio España is located on Plaza de España, at the end of the Gran Vía. It stands next to the Torre de Madrid, and together they are important landmarks in the city.
Changes Over the Years
Over time, the ownership of the Edificio España changed several times. In 2005, a company called Metrovacesa sold part of the building. Later, a bank group called Santander Real bought it. The hotel inside the building closed in 2006. Santander had plans to renovate the building. They wanted to keep its original look, especially the outside and the main lobby. However, their plans faced some delays.
In 2014, a Chinese real estate company, Dalian Wanda, bought the building. It had been empty for several years by then. The company planned to turn it into luxury apartments and a hotel. They also wanted to create a large shopping area. However, Dalian Wanda later sold the building to another group.
The Hotel Riu Plaza España Today
In 2017, RIU Hotels bought the entire building. They decided to make it completely into a hotel, which is now the Hotel Riu Plaza España. It officially opened on August 13, 2019.
Today, the lower three floors of the building are used for shops. The rest of the building is a large hotel with 585 rooms. It also has a huge space for events, two restaurants, and a rooftop pool. The very top floors (levels 26 and 27) have a cool skybar with amazing views of Madrid.
Since April 2022, the Edificio España is also home to the biggest Zara store in Spain. This huge store, along with a Stradivarius store, covers about 9,000 square meters (about 97,000 square feet). It's thought to be the largest Zara store in the world!
See also
- Telefónica Building
- Torre de Madrid
- Spanish architecture
