Herzog & de Meuron's levitating cultural center near the Prado — a building of weathered, oxidized iron that appears to float above the street, its ground floor seemingly removed, paired with Patrick Blanc's lush vertical garden climbing the wall beside it. The Swiss architects took an old power station and transformed it into one of Madrid's most inventive art spaces. The contrast of rusted metal, living green wall, and floating mass stops passersby in their tracks. For visitors, it offers free, ambitious exhibitions and a piece of world-class contemporary architecture, steps from the city's great museums.
Location
Jerónimos, Madrid
Map
Insider Intel
The main staircase — three flights finished in limestone white across walls, floor and ceiling, spiralling round an inverted cone. Outside, Patrick Blanc's vertical garden: over 15,000 plants on 460 square metres, soil-free on a felt mat, the first of its kind in Spain. The brick box rests on only three cores, so it appears to float.
The first hour after opening at 10:00; weekend afternoons are worst. A few free days fall each year.
Around €6, open every day including holidays. Free for under-16s and some cardholders — but they must still claim a zero-cost ticket to get in. The vertical garden is on the public plaza and needs no ticket at all.