Photos: Cassowary Colorizations, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Satdeep Gill, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo credits
Photos: Cassowary Colorizations, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Satdeep Gill, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
CaixaForum's living wall and beyond
Your local guide
Rubén Castro
View profile
Highlights
- A living wall of hundreds of plants
- A power station turned cultural centre
- Original brick meeting newer steel
- A building that looks like it floats
- Adaptive reuse, explained from outside
About this tour
This session looks at CaixaForum from outside, an old power station now home to one of Madrid's cultural centres. You see the living wall covering one side of the building and the point where original brickwork meets the newer steel structure above it. I explain how a working power plant became one of the city's more striking buildings.
We spend most of the time in front of the building itself, since there is enough here to fill the session without moving far. I explain the living wall's mechanics and the architectural choices behind the renovation as questions come up. The pace stays relaxed given how much there is to look at in one spot.
This suits anyone interested in architecture and adaptive reuse rather than the exhibitions themselves. It also pairs well with the Matadero session for a broader look at Madrid's repurposed buildings.
Included
- Live video walk with a local guide
- Questions to your guide all the way
- A short list of places to visit later
Not included
- Internet connection
- Travel to the city
Itinerary
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Welcome and sound check 5 min
The guide joins the video call, checks the picture and sound with you, and gives you a quick sense of Madrid before heading out.
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The living wall 15 min
A vertical garden covers one full side of the building, hundreds of plant species growing without soil. I explain how the structure keeps them alive and why it was built facing this particular street.
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The converted power station 15 min
The building itself used to generate electricity for Madrid's trams, and you can still see where the original brickwork meets the newer steel structure suspended above it. I point out how the architects kept the building looking like it is floating just above the ground.
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Your questions 7 min
Time to ask anything about Madrid: prices, safety, food, or whatever you are curious about.
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A short list to keep 3 min
Before you go, the guide sums up with a few things worth remembering: a dish to try: Cocido madrileño and Malasaña, worth a slower look.
Good to know
- A stable wifi or mobile connection makes the picture smoother than a shaky one.
- Any phone, tablet or laptop with a camera works. You watch, the guide does the walking.
- Times are shown in Madrid time, so check the time where you are before you book.
- The session is not recorded, and recording it yourself is not allowed. Feel free to take your own notes.
- Ask questions any time, out loud or in the chat. The guide will pause to answer.
- Sessions run in small groups, up to 8 people, so there is room for everyone to ask something.
Questions about this tour
What will the session cover?
The guide walks through Madrid, showing you The living wall and The converted power station live on camera, plus whatever else you would like to see.
What happens if my connection drops?
Rejoin with the same link within a few minutes and the guide will catch you up on anything you missed.
Can I ask the guide questions during the session, or is it a fixed script?
Anything, any time. Sessions leave room for your own questions throughout, not just at the end.
Do I need any background in art?
No. The guide explains what matters as you go, whatever you already know or do not.
How it works
- You get one join link after booking.
- Join from any device: phone, tablet or laptop.
- We meet on Google Meet; the link comes with your booking. I walk the building's exterior live with my phone.
Times shown in Madrid time (CET)
Cancellation
Flexible
- Cancel up to 24 hours before the start: full refund.
- Cancel less than 24 hours before the start, or no-show: no refund.
- If the guide cancels or the date does not reach its minimum group: full refund.
- Cancel in My Account → Bookings; the refund is calculated from the start time in the tour's local time.
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Next: Tue 3 Nov · 8 seats left From 19,00 €
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