MADRID

RIO
by West 8 &
MRIO Arquitectos

P A N T O J A
V I L L A F L O R E S
Z I P A G A N
 MADRID RIO
IS A LINEAR RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL PARK
KNOWN FOR ITS LANDMARKS, LEISURE FACILITIES
AND THE CULTURE IT HOUSES

Madrid River has 42- The park was made

kilometer itineraries possible when the citys
and includes 11 new inner beltway, the M-30,
children's play areas, was moved from the
INTRODUCTION 6 senior spaces, 30 banks of the river into
kilometers of bike tunnels constructed
path and 253,601 m2 beneath the riverbed.
of sports use. In The space now void of
addition, there are the highway has since
more than 33,000 been exploited in a
trees planted and 429 number of different
hectares of green ways for the everyones
areas. enjoyment.
COMPONENTS OF THE
MADRID RIO PROJECT
AVENIDA DE PORTUGAL
HUERTA DE LA PARTIDA
ARGANZUELA PARK
CASCARA BRIDGE
SALON DE PINOS
BRIDGE OF
TOLEDO
 PROBLEMS TACKLED BY
THE MADRID RIO PROJECT
 increasing ratio of vehicles to population in the
1960s

motorway M-30 was constructed, joining the

central part and the suburbs. but eventually had
low traffic capacity and did not suffice its
purpose

economic decline in the western part of Madrid -

Real estate fell in prices, the trade level
decreased small stores closed, large networks
were relocated

city government decided to reconstruct the road

in order to improve the urban climate, and
relocated the road underground during the
period of 2006 2010

the area around the river had been all but

abandoned until early 2005
CLIENT/PROPONENT: Municipality of Madrid

PEOPLE/STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED:
Citizens of Madrid, Government, Architects/Designers
(West 8 + MRIO Arquitectos), Tourists
 CONCEPT:
The design is founded on the idea 3 + 30 a concept
which proposes dividing the 80 hectare urban development
into a trilogy of initial strategic projects that establish a basic
structure which then serves as a solid foundation for a
number of further projects, initiated in part by the
municipality as well as by private investors and residents. A
total of 47 subprojects with a combined total budget of 280
million Euros have since been developed.
 3+30 Concept
A riverwalk along the Manzanares, a large park, and a
project to rebuild an urban ensemble, which had been
severed by the orbital motorway near the royal palace of
Madrid.

A series of public and private interventions were to restore

and enhance the urban fabric.
Madrid Rio Urban Park Plan

The plan highlights the Arganzuela Park

on the northern bank of the river. The
park is the largest section of the project
covering 40 hectares. The river gardens
near the Puente de Toledo in the west
are currently under construction.
In their design of the
riverwalk on top of
the tunnel, West 8
and MRIO
arquitectos interpret
the vegetation from
the mountain region
close to Madrid.