Page 120 - 360.revista de Alta Velocidad - Nº 6

Ayrault Pérez, Juan

In 1992 three communication glass towers by José Luis Íñiguez de Onzoño and Antonio Vázquez
de Castro were located in west and north façades.
In 2006 an enlargement designed by Jean
Nouvel doubled the exhibition surface
permitting to reshape the best collection of
Spanish modern art.
Up North, by the Neptune fountain, the
new Thyssen‐Bornemisza Museum opened in
1992 in an old palace to exhibit one of the
most impressive private art collections: the
one purchased by the Spanish Government
to Baron Thyssen‐Bornemisza.

Figure 45: Centro de Arte Reina Sofia. Enlargement by Jean The building had been acquired by the State
Nouvel. Source: www.museoreinasofia.es
after
the bankruptcy of its former proprietor, the
Banca López Quesada.

Paseo del Prado by Alvaro Siza. In 2002
the City Council approved a new plan
for the axis Recoletos‐Prado, won by
Portuguese architect Alvaro Siza Vieira in
an international contest. The plan was
partially implemented near Atocha area,
although the bulk of the project remains still
pending, due to disagreements between the
Figure 46: Thyssen Bornemisza museum. City Council and the Regional Government
Source: www.esmadrid.com

Figure 47: Recoletos‐Prado axis by Alvaro Siza & J. M. Hernández de León. Source: http://es.globedia.com

When the three star museums –Reina Sofia, Prado and Thyssen‐ were established, the area
began to be known as Paseo del Arte (Art Promenade) or Golden Triangle of Art. The three
world‐class art galleries were complemented by other cultural landmarks that shaped one of
the biggest concentrations of artworks in the world.

118 360.revista de alta velocidad