The building
Antonio Palacios
The building del Círculo de Bellas ArtesWith over 100 years of history, it is perhaps one of the best examples of architecture serving its purpose, without neglecting the ornamental and stylistic characteristics of the period. Antonio Palacios' project aimed to combine architectural and ornamental grandeur with the artistic, cultural and —at the time— recreational function of the institution.
The headquarters del Círculo which already had 5.000 partners In 1927, it boasted not only significant spaces dedicated to the arts, exhibitions, conferences, cinema, and theater, but also included a swimming pool, billiards, a barbershop, a study hall, and a ballroom for those formal parties, among which was the mythical masked ballfencing, radio broadcasts, parties, etc.
Architecture
The building del Círculo de Bellas ArtesLocated near the intersection of Madrid's two main thoroughfares, Calle Alcalá and Gran Vía, it acquired significant iconographic value in the urban landscape of the early 20th century. The heterogeneity of its layout, as well as the contrast between the semantic composition of its interior and exterior, made it a prominent symbol of the architecture of a city that was progressing towards modernity with remarkable deliberation.
