President of the Government visits Prado Museum extension

Buen Retiro Palace, Madrid

The President of the Government was accompanied on his visit by Carmen Calvo, Vice-President of the Government, and José Guirao, Minister for Culture and Sport. José Calvo stressed that "this is about ensuring that the wonderful collections we have here in Spain can be experienced by people and so that the extraordinary showcase for Spain, which this museum clearly is, can continue to be one of the best in the world". "We all need to work together on that, demonstrating loyalty and effort, and that was the message behind the President of the Government's visit today", added the Vice-President of the Government.

For Miguel Falomir, Director of the Prado Museum, "this is an important day for the museum, for the people of Madrid, for the people of Spain and for everyone who supports culture". He went on to add that "it is important for a global benchmark institution to be able to provide and expand its services to the public, and that is impossible without the help of public authorities".

The new space measures some 5,800 m², of which 2,500 m² will be used for exhibitions and thereby complete the Prado Museum Campus - a unique space spread over the various buildings: the original by Villanueva, the Casón del Buen Retiro, the Los Jerónimos Building and the new Salón de Reinos.

The architects Norman Foster and Carlos Rubio, who led the visit, are the project leaders for the expansion of the former Army Museum of Madrid - a 17th century building of great architectural significance. The extension will help transform an area that aspires to be declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in a bid that could combine the Prado Museum and Retiro Park.

Incorporation of this building into the Prado Museum Campus is the main objective for commemorating the 2nd centenary of the Prado Museum, which begins this autumn.

The proposal by Norman Foster and Carlos Rubio makes the best possible use of space in the building as a museum and creates a large access atrium on the southern façade, giving this space a semi-open character that is permeable to the exterior but sufficiently controlled so as to offer protection for the original façade of the Salón de Reinos, where the openings and balconies have been restored. Above this façade emerges the prolongation of a large exhibitions space on the third floor, with higher ceilings and wider than the current space, to form the roof of the atrium and terrace looking out over the Campus.

Non official translation