Edificio Grassy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Edificio Grassy |
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Edificio Grassy in Gran Vía
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| General information | |
| Type | Office |
| Architectural style | Eclectic |
| Location | Gran Vía 1 Madrid |
| Coordinates | 40°25′09″N 3°41′52″W / 40.41907°N 3.69787°W |
| Construction started | 1916 |
| Completed | 1917 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Eladio Laredo y Carranza |
The Edificio Grassy is a famous building in Madrid, Spain. It stands at the very beginning of Gran Vía, one of Madrid's most important streets. This beautiful building was built a long time ago, between 1916 and 1917.
The Building's Design and Look
The Edificio Grassy is located right where the Calle de Alcalá meets Gran Vía. It was built between 1916 and 1917. The building stands on a triangular piece of land. This is similar to the Edificio Metrópolis right next to it.
The architect, Eladio Laredo, wanted the Edificio Grassy to look a bit like the Metrópolis Building. This idea of similar-looking buildings was quite common along Gran Vía.
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The Edificio Grassy is actually made of two separate buildings. These two parts are connected by a main hall and a central patio. Its design style is called Eclectic. This means it mixes different architectural styles. The building has a round tower, called a rotunda, at the top. This rotunda has two smaller towers, known as belvederes, stacked on top. These parts show influences from the Renaissance period.
What's Inside Today
Since 1952, the Edificio Grassy has been home to the fancy Grassy Jeweler's shop. In the basement of the building, there is also a special museum. This museum has a private collection of very old clocks. You can see amazing clocks from France, Germany, and England. These clocks date from the 16th century all the way to the 19th century.
The outside of the building is famous for its bright, lit-up signs. These signs advertise different brands of watches. For many years, famous watch brands like Jaeger-LeCoultre, Audemars Piguet, Piaget, and Baume et Mercier had their signs here. They were easy to spot at the start of Gran Vía. Right now, a Rolex sign takes up this well-known spot.
Interesting Facts
In 1981, a famous painter named Antonio López painted the Edificio Grassy. He included it in his very realistic painting called "La Gran Vía."
There is a special plaque at the building's entrance on Calle del Caballero de Gracia. This plaque tells us that a French writer, Théophile Gautier, lived in this area in the spring of 1840.
See also
In Spanish: Edificio Grassy para niños
