Madrid

The 1997 General Urban Development Plan of Madrid (PGOU) only included very generic aesthetic guidelines, without specifying structural finishes or historical color schemes. To address this regulatory gap, the City Council’s Central District Urban Planning Office commissioned our team to cover this deficit. As part of the Strategic Project for the Central Area, it was decided to begin by studying the original colors of the Plaza Mayor and the broader downtown district.

This project served to demonstrate a rigorous and scientific methodology, establishing that all future interventions should be approached using preliminary chromatic, stratigraphic, and petrographic studies as required background documentation prior to any restoration work. The study successfully uncovered and documented traditional facade coating techniques, colors, and materials intended to be incorporated as a mandatory ordinance within the future Urban Landscape Master Plan. This initial comprehensive approach to the Spanish capital’s color heritage was designed to serve as a blueprint for the remaining historic neighborhoods across the entire urban center.