Accelerating sustainable construction and building icons in Madrid

Madrid, the heart of Spain, is thriving with art, culture, architecture, sport and life. The Spanish capital is not only the biggest city in Spain but also the second largest city in the European Union (EU) by population, with more than 6 million people living in its metropolitan area – and that number is growing as the country continues to urbanize.

The city is also the engine of the Spanish economy and one of Europe’s main digital hubs. It’s well connected to the rest of the world with Madrid Barajas Airport welcoming over 50 million travelers per year and being the main gateway to and from Latin America.

To make this rapid urbanization and the country’s economic development work for people and the planet, we’re helping Madrid build icons – in a way that is circular, resilient, low-carbon, energy-efficient and smart.

With iconic projects and operations representing Holcim's innovative and sustainable building solutions for both new builds and renovation works, Madrid inspires Holcim in its purpose to build progress for people and the planet.

A must-see for any first-time visitor to Madrid, the Puerta de Alcalá monument is one of the five old royal gates that gave access to the city. Today it is a gateway into the lungs of Madrid – Buen Retiro Park. Built by order of King Charles III and inaugurated in 1778, it was renovated in 2022. Thanks to our solutions the monument is being preserved for future generations. Holcim’s 100% cement-free limestone mortar was used to restore the area covered by the lead layer, which can contain toxic elements and needs to be covered or removed. Our mortar is ideal for all types of restorations of historical heritage given its preservative properties.

The Prado National Museum was designed by the architect Juan de Villanueva in 1785 as the Cabinet of Natural Sciences, by order of King Carlos III. It is the most important cultural institution in Spain, and one of the most famous art museums in the world. In 2022, the Prado Museum in Madrid welcomed more than 2.4 million visitors. Holcim supplied Artevia Color for the museum’s exterior pavements – enhancing its beautiful architecture. Artevia is Holcim’s line of versatile decorative concrete.

The Mandarin Oriental Ritz was designed by renowned French architect Charles Frédéric Mewes and inaugurated by King Alfonso XIII in 1910. This is one of the first buildings in Madrid to use reinforced concrete. In 2018, the Mandarin Oriental Group acquired the building and conducted an extensive renovation under the direction of architect Rafael de La-Hoz. Holcim contributed Agilia Light Weight self compacting concrete and Agilia Screed self-leveling concrete to this project.

Located in Madrid at Plaza de las Cortes, 7, the Westin Palace Hotel was an initiative of the Belgian hotel businessman George Marquet at the personal suggestion of King Alfonso XIII. The architects Edouard-Jean Niermans and Eduardo Ferrer Puig, inspired by Parisian hotels of the time, used reinforced concrete in this 1912 construction, enabling the building to be completed in a then record time of seven months. The hotel was last renovated in 2023, with Agilia Light Weight and Agilia Screed from Holcim among the solutions chosen.

The Torres de Colón, twin and emblematic skyscrapers in Madrid, were remodeled in 2020 to change not only their upper structure, but the image of the busy Plaza Colón where they are located. The intent of the renovation was to create the most modern, sustainable office buildings in Madrid, and a new city icon. The base of the towers was renovated using Holcim’s light weight concrete.

Construction of the Titania Tower (also known as the new Windsor) began in 2007. Located on Raimundo Fernández street, in the heart of the AZCA business center, it is one of the tallest skyscrapers in Madrid. Among the solutions used in the rebuilding process was Agilia concrete, which was chosen for both vertical walls and foundations.

In 2020, the Santiago Bernabeú football stadium, home of the legendary Real Madrid Football Club, and an emblematic city icon, was renovated. A critical aspect for the renovation of the stadium’s structure was the reinforcement of access points. Holcim’s sulfur-resistant cements, manufactured in Sagunto and transported to Villaluenga for easier distribution, were selected for their resistance, quality and ease of application on site. Agilia Light Weight was also used for the interior renovation works.

Torre Espacio is the fourth tower of the Cuatro Torres business complex and also the fourth tallest building in Madrid. Designed by architect Henry N. Cobb, it was the first building to obtain the new Building Value Management System “GVE” certificate, which was awarded by AENOR with its highest rating, AAA. High strength Agilia concrete was used in different applications throughout this skyscraper.

The new campus of the IESE Business School is located in front of the original historic building, close to Casa de Campo, the main green lung of the Municipality of Madrid. The new building is a highly sustainable facility that includes green energy consumption (the electricity consumed comes from 100% renewable energy sources), solar panels for hot water, a high efficiency lighting installation and electric charging points for vehicles. It’s also a building where concrete is a relevant and valued material in its pure state, with Holcim’s exposed and brushed Artevia chosen for both walls and pavements.

The German School of Madrid opened its doors in 2016 to create “the largest civil construction project of the Federal Republic of Germany abroad”, according to the German Ministry of Culture. Occupying a space of more than 27,000 m2 and accommodating up to 1,500 - 1,600 students, the building was designed by the Berlin architecture studio Grüntuch und Ernst with functionality, safety and sustainability in mind. Architectonic Agilia was used for the magnificent building envelope and Artevia solutions were used for the pavements.

ECOPact low-carbon concrete delivers 100% performance offering at least 30% lower CO2 emissions compared to standard (CEM I) concrete, without offsets.

Light weight concrete is a low density solution, reducing the amount of material used, improving thermal properties and with excellent long-term durability.

Artevia is a stunning design material with all the traditional advantages of concrete such as low maintenance, durability and resistance to wear and tear.

Agilia is a self-compacting concrete that will flow freely around congested reinforcement without the need for vibration or other energy input. The high-quality finish can eliminate the need to power float concrete on site and has the potential for 30%-50% carbon savings.

Hydromedia is a water management system that rapidly absorbs rainwater off streets, parking surfaces, driveways and walkways – reducing the risk of flooding. This permeable solution combines the properties of concrete and advanced drainage technology.

As the partner of choice for developers, contractors and architects, thanks to our broad range of innovative and sustainable building solutions, many of Madrid’s rising icons already have Holcim inside.

With foundations and basements made out of Holcim’s ECOPact concrete, Castellana 69 is a modern office building that aims to become an architectural icon of Madrid. Architectural studio Heatherwick made its debut in Spain with the building’s design. The five-storey building will rise to house the most sustainable offices in the city with the help of sustainable construction materials such as ECOPact and the creation of a large central interior urban garden that will become the “green heart” of the building.

The French Lyceum of Madrid is a French international school, integrated in the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE), with two campuses in Madrid: Conde de Orgaz in Hortaleza and Saint-Exupéry in La Moraleja, Alcobendas. The Conde de Orgaz campus is undergoing renovation and Holcim’s low-carbon ECOPact concrete was chosen for the exposed walls. The 1700 m2 parking lot will use Hydromedia – Holcim’s permeable concrete – to help rapidly absorb rainwater.

In addition to Holcim's building solutions being used in landmarks across Madrid, we also produce many of our products in the surrounding area. Our production sites in the Madrid area stand out for their commitment to innovation, sustainability and care for nature. And with much of the production happening locally, we help close the transport loop and promote circularity.

In 2022, Holcim launched the “Better Workplaces” initiative to ensure our colleagues’ comfort and wellbeing. Our colleagues in Spain took the initiative one step further and, together with A3D Building, they 3D concrete printed the country’s first such office. They did so at our ready mix plant in Torres de la Alameda near Madrid using our innovative Tector® Print mortar and ECOPact low-carbon concrete.

The premier mortar innovation center, Villasequilla features its own R&D hub for sustainable construction and focuses on industrialized construction, advanced insulation, waterproofing solutions, and 3D printing. It also integrates the latest technology to optimize logistics flows.

Among the most innovative plants in Spain, here the increased use of alternative fuels, alternative raw materials and electric fleet upgrades help achieve a significant reduction of CO2 emissions during the production process. With a new carbon capture and utilization (CCU) project planned and clean hydrogen trials already ongoing, the plant is well-positioned to become a net-zero plant in the near future.

At our Yepes quarry, over 500 hectares of semi-arid land are being transformed into a thriving natural reserve, home to 360 plant species and featuring a recreation area for locals, while continuing to supply limestone to the Villaluenga Plant. This project is a prime example of Holcim's Biodiversity Roadmap in action. A UN study on Yepes concludes that Holcim is “one of the frontrunners in the business community when it comes to measuring biodiversity,” and that our “science-based approach is another strength… The applied tools have proved to be scientifically robust.”

Our La Chanta quarry in Spain is a model of ecological restoration and land stewardship, a place for research and environmental education, and a home for species such as the golden eagle, the spotted toad and native flora of the region. It received the UEPG Sustainable Development Award in the “Restoration” Category in 2022 for its innovative rehabilitation process and prioritization of biodiversity. The city of Madrid included it in the Catalogue of Wetlands of the region, recognizing the high ecological value of this environmental paradise.

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