CITIES OF THE MONTH / January
Fly to
Madrid
€ 149
from
Exhibition view of Invisibles by Jaume Plensa at the Crystal Palace
located in Retiro park, Reina Sofia National Museum and Art Centre
Cool Rooms Atocha
26
Takk Grotto
Located in Retiro Park, the Palacio de Cristal is
probably most famous 19th-century greenhouse and
exhibition space in Europe. Organised by the Museo
Reina Sofía, a gigantic sculptural group created
by acclaimed Spanish sculptor Jaume Plensa is
currently on show within the transparent setting
of glass walls. Plensa often refers to both corporeal
and spiritual motifs in his artwork; in this piece,
titled Invisibles, the concept of transparency and
invisibility unfolds in an installation made of three
immense female heads. Hanging in the air, they are
made of fine steel wire, which makes it difficult to
define their shapes and faces by daylight – the light
‘dissolves’ the piece within its surrounding. For the
ultimate aesthetic and philosophical revelation, one
must see the sculptures twice: once during the day
and again in the evening, when they materialise
against the background of darkness. The park is
open until 10 pm (Paseo República de Cuba, 4;
until March 3).
To witness a unique approach to the artistry
of interior design teamed with inspiring usage of
architectural structures, materials, and forms, head
to the new Swatch boutique in Madrid. There, the
Spanish architects from Takk have created no less
than a real cave – the Grotto, an anthropomorphic
ornamented interior crafted from textured plaster.
With six vaults situated around a central pillar,
the space is filled with light and shadows from the
lace-like ceiling constructions for a one-of-a-kind
fairytale atmosphere (Calle del Gobernador 26;
takk-architecture.com).
Cool Rooms Atocha (Calle de Atocha, 34;
coolrooms.com, from EUR 200) is an exclusive
newcomer to Madrid’s hotel scene located in the
central neighbourhood of Las Letras. The Casa
Palacio, a grand mansion dating to 1852, has been
transformed into a boutique hotel with a luxurious
yet individual touch. Moreover, the eye-catching
blocks of red on the façade won’t let you miss the
right door. The hotel’s 35 large rooms and suites
are executed in delicate design: warm pastel
colours, a touch of Art Deco in the wall panels and
ceilings, spacious and sophisticated black-and-white
bathrooms. The urban rooftop Pool Garden features
an exceptional selection of tailor-made cocktails and
romantic views of Madrid.
MADRID
round trip
X
LONDON, MAY 2018
/ airBaltic.com
RIGA, DZIRNAVU STREET 81