The Community of Madrid hosts a retrospective of the work of the architect Antonio Palacios, from his first plans in 1917 to his latest works

The Community of Madrid is hosting the Antonio Palacios exhibition at the Real Casa de Correos, headquarters of the regional government, from today until 30 June. The Architect of Metro, a retrospective of the artist's work, from his earliest plans dating from 1917 to his latest works.

The Regional Minister of Housing, Transport and Infrastructure, Jorge Rodrigo, has presented the exhibition organised to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth of this master builder, where in a space of 355 square metres, visitors can learn about the history of the Compañía Metropolitano Alfonso XIII from its beginnings, when it was just an aspiration, to the completion of the four original lines of the network (1, 2, 3 and 4), including those incipient stations, and even the unfinished project of the Casa del Metro.

Thus, through 200 pieces of large-format graphic and audiovisual material, models and plans, the people of Madrid will be able to get an insight into the work that Palacios carried out in the subsoil of Madrid. They detail his role as the creator of the first sections of the underground and its industrial buildings such as the Nave de Motores de Pacífico (open to the public as a museum) and the electrical substations in the streets of Castelló and Olid.

In order to carry out this research, a thorough investigation has been carried out, both in the company's archives and in other public and private records, resulting in a selection of works of outstanding value. Visitors will also be able to discover unique and singular elements such as the historical reproduction of the Puerta del Sol (1936) and the Gran Vía lift pavilion. The exhibition can be visited free of charge in this emblematic space until 30 June, from 10 am to 2 pm in the morning and from 4 pm to 8 pm in the afternoon. In addition, there will be guided tours at the appointed times.

A YEAR DEVOTED TO ANTONIO PALACIOS

Antonio Palacios was an important figure in the history of Spanish architecture. He left an undeniable mark on the city of Madrid and an immense legacy on the underground. For this reason, different initiatives and activities have been launched this year as a tribute to this distinguished architect.

Proof of this is that on 5 January 2024, for the first time, Metro participated in the Spanish capital's Three Kings Parade with a float decorated with different elements representing his work, such as the Gran Vía pavilion or the Cuatro Caminos totem pole.

Also noteworthy is the new decoration of the entrances to the first eight stations that make up the historic Cuatro Caminos-Sol section, which opened in 1919. All of them (Sol, Tribunal, Bilbao, Chamberí, Iglesia, Ríos Rosas, Cuatro Caminos and Gran Vía), designed by Palacios, have the date printed on the gate in golden wrought iron and a commemorative plaque.

The company also wanted the architect to be the highlight of this year's Book Night, held in the Nave de Motores, where his legacy was explained through an original interpretation of the book, Antonio Palacios, metro y metrópoli (Antonio Palacios, metro and metropolis).

In addition, the underground has created a specific micro-site on its website dedicated exclusively to the professional career of this master through photographs, videos and podcasts. This page also contains a map to tour some of the most representative buildings in the city that were thought up by this architect and a playful and interactive space that will test the public's knowledge of his work.