La Casa Encendida Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids La Casa Encendida

General information
Address	Valencia Ring Road, 2, 28012
Country	Spain

La Casa Encendida is a lively cultural center in the heart of Madrid, Spain. It opened its doors in December 2002. This special place offers many activities for people of all ages. It is a great spot to explore art, learn new things, and enjoy creative events.

The center belongs to Fundación Montemadrid. This foundation is a group that helps the community. They support many social and cultural projects. La Casa Encendida is one of their main projects.

At La Casa Encendida, you can find exciting art shows. They also have classes and workshops. These cover topics like social issues, culture, and the environment. The center is known for supporting young artists. It gives them a place to show their work. You can see performances, films, and other modern art forms here.

The name La Casa Encendida means 'The Burning House' in English. This name comes from a book of poems. The poet, Luis Rosales Camacho, wrote the book. His family gave permission for the center to use this unique name.

History of the Building
- From Bank to Cultural Hub
- Building Design and Style
Gallery
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History of the Building

The building where La Casa Encendida is located has a long history. It was designed by a famous architect named Fernando Arbós y Tremanti. Construction started on May 1, 1911. The building was finished in 1913.

From Bank to Cultural Hub

In its early years, the building was not a cultural center. It was used as an office for a bank. The bank was called Caja de Ahorros y Monte de Piedad de Madrid. People often called it El Monte or 'The Mount'. It was also known as La Casa de Empeños, which means 'The Pawnshop'.

This was because the bank had a special part called the Monte de Piedad. This part acted like a charity pawnbroker. It offered loans without charging interest. This helped people who needed money. In 1869, this charity merged with a savings bank. This created the larger bank that used the building.

Building Design and Style

The building has a unique design. It is built around a central open space called a courtyard. The front of the building, called the facade, looks balanced and interesting. It was quite modern for its time.

The facade mixes different building materials. It uses both brick and granite. The style combines Italianate and Neo-Mudéjar designs. Italianate style often uses features from Italian Renaissance buildings. Neo-Mudéjar style uses elements from old Spanish-Islamic art. This mix gives the building a special look.