Urban redevelopment: 25,000 trees for a new neighbourhood

In the history of the world's metropolises, it is rare for large-scale urban projects to stretch for miles and miles. In Madrid, however, this has already happened twice. First in 1910, with the construction of the famous Gran Via, the city's emblematic thoroughfare, which was finally completed in 1929. Then today, with the Madrid Rio and its seven kilometres of redeveloped riverbanks. along the River Manzanares. After decades of a city cut in two by the M-30 motorway, one of the most congested in Spain with almost 100,000 vehicles a day, the gardens of the Royal Palace can now be reached on foot from the Casa de Campo, the former hunting grounds of the Spanish kings. The secret of this revolution: the motorway is now buried several metres underground. "Madrid Río is not just a public space project for the city, but for the entire region".enthuses José Luis Infanzon, Madrid's deputy director-general for urban development projects.

It all began eight years ago, when the mayor, Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón, took the decision to cover part of Madrid's ring road. The first phase, which mainly involved building tunnels, took more than four years. "The proximity of the water made the task particularly difficult and, above all, very expensive".explains José Luis Infanzon. In fact, these major works have cost the modest sum of... two billion euros. In comparison, the development of the riverbanks and gardens, at three hundred million euros, is a mere trifle. Yet the city has called on some great architects for this second stage. Notably Dominique Perrault, who designed the Arganzuela footbridge. "He was absolutely determined to contribute to Madrid Rio by creating this superb work".explains the town planner.

For some months now, the town has been blossoming with a continuity of green spaces and has been linked to the surrounding countryside. It is now possible to walk along the river to the mountains, some 80 km away. But this major project - a huge undertaking, given that it is the biggest urban redevelopment project in Europe in the last ten years - will not only bring well-being and comfort to the people of Madrid.  

Eventually, Madrid Rio will also be a major property development. Cafés and restaurants are already springing up around the 100 hectares of gardens and 25,000 trees stretching along the water's edge - the equivalent of Retiro Park. New homes are due to be built, while others will be renovated and brought up to current ecological standards. "There is also talk of building a theatre and refurbishing the former Ministry of the Environment to house a water museum".concludes José Luis Infanzon, adding that a project for an electric bus running along the seven-kilometre route could become a reality in the not-too-distant future.

A project that is both green and arty

"Matadero Madrid was designed in parallel with the Río project. However, their destinies are closely linked".explains Pablo Berástegui, general coordinator of Matadero Madrid. "Matadero Madrid marks the boundary between the city and the park. But it's a porous boundary, linking the new green axis to the Prado-Recoletos cultural axis, which is extended southwards with the addition of new spaces such as Casa Encendida, another cultural centre housed in a former tobacco factory".continues the coordinator.