Architecture News

Experience a Musical Metropolis: Shakira's Sustainable Spectacle in Madrid

Transforming a Venue into a Vibrant Cultural Hub

Instead of a standard stadium concert, Shakira's Madrid performances will unfold within Macondo Park, a sprawling 185,000-square-meter temporary city conceptualized by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). This ambitious project converts the Iberdrola Music venue in Villaverde into a dynamic cultural ecosystem. It integrates a 50,000-seat stadium with an array of colorful pavilions, bustling markets, diverse food offerings, art installations, fashion exhibits, cinema spaces, and dedicated children's zones. The entire environment is crafted to enhance the concert experience, extending the celebration far beyond the main stage.

Designing for an Immersive Audience Journey

Unlike conventional stadiums where focus converges on a single performance, this specially constructed environment allowed BIG's architects to meticulously plan the audience's entire journey. Stefani Fachini de Araujo, an Associate at BIG and the Design Lead for the project, highlighted that the architectural design not only accommodates large crowds but also strategically guides visitors, fostering moments of discovery and providing spaces for gathering, celebration, and respite throughout the day. While Shakira remains the central attraction, the festive atmosphere begins long before her appearance.

Navigating the Temporary Town with Color-Coded Paths

Visitors embark on their journey through a series of welcoming arches, each distinctively colored and linked to a corresponding route that traverses the entire site. These pathways lead to twelve temporary pavilions, alongside dedicated areas for fans, VIPs, and children. Eight of these primary structures are themed around the rich tapestry of Latin American culture. Fachini de Araujo emphasized that each path directs visitors to a unique pavilion offering a distinct experience. At the heart of this expansive event ground stands the Macondo Tree, a central landmark that functions as the temporary town's focal point.

Bringing Nature and Scale to a Grand Event Space

Over 500 trees and strategically placed planted islands, drawing inspiration from Mediterranean, Spanish, and Latin American landscapes, serve to soften the vastness of the open venue and provide welcome pockets of shade. The Design Lead further explained that these numerous trees introduce a human scale to the site, transforming what would otherwise be a massive event space into a genuine park. The name 'Macondo,' borrowed from Gabriel García Márquez's 'One Hundred Years of Solitude,' signifies not a literal recreation, but a conceptual framework that intertwines storytelling, popular culture, and communal celebration, all while subtly incorporating essential stadium logistics.

Prioritizing Reusability and a Second Life for Every Component

Constructing this temporary world presented challenges in terms of both scale and timeline. Fachini de Araujo noted that the design phase spanned approximately six months, with some pavilions assembled in just about ten days. This necessitated an inventive approach to utilizing standard event components like trusses, scaffolding, containers, and stage support systems, rethinking their integration and purpose. These familiar structures, wrapped in vibrant fabrics, form a cohesive family of shaded environments, each possessing a unique character yet built upon a practical and robust framework.

A Thoughtful Approach to Disassembly and Sustainability

The ephemeral nature of Macondo Park profoundly influenced the planning for its post-event phase. Fachini de Araujo emphasized that from the outset, with the knowledge that it would be dismantled, every single element was chosen with its subsequent use in mind. The structures and fabrics are designated for reuse, the artificial turf will be repurposed for schools and playgrounds, and the trees will be returned to nurseries. For a project designed to be a spectacle, its planned disappearance has been executed with remarkable foresight and commitment to sustainabilit

INS Studio's Common Days project in Maros, Indonesia, stands as a testament to harmonious integration with the surrounding natural environment and local cultural context. Situated in a developing commercial area, the three-story structure is designed as a dynamic community hub, accommodating various activities from social gatherings to focused work. The architectural vision was deeply influenced by the stunning vistas of Bukit Cenrana, a prominent natural landmark in Maros. By elevating the building and incorporating an open-air rooftop garden, the design ensures that visitors enjoy expansive, unobstructed views, making the landscape an essential part of their experience rather than a mere backdrop. The deliberate choice of locally sourced andesite stone, quarried from nearby mountains, grounds the building in its regional identity. This natural stone, used extensively for interior walls, flooring, and the coffee bar, features a distinctive square pattern that adds tactile richness. Complementing this, perforated terracotta brick screens form a climate-responsive exterior, providing both visual interest and practical environmental benefits. These material selections create a strong, authentic connection between the building and its site, emphasizing sustainability and local craftsmanship.

The building's multi-functional layout caters to diverse needs, promoting both lively interaction and quiet contemplation. The ground floor, dedicated to a coffee shop, serves as the vibrant social heart, encouraging spontaneous encounters and fostering a sense of community. Its open design allows for a fluid transition to the second floor, which offers a more serene environment for productivity and collaboration. This level includes flexible working spaces and private meeting rooms, all designed to enhance comfort and well-being. An outdoor terrace, predominantly crafted from local terracotta bricks, extends the workspace, providing an inviting area that blends indoor and outdoor experiences. A striking moss wall, cultivated and installed by local gardeners, further integrates natural elements, contributing to a calming atmosphere. The perforated facade, beyond its aesthetic role, plays a crucial environmental function, filtering intense morning sunlight and facilitating natural ventilation from the hills, thus reducing reliance on artificial cooling. This passive design strategy extends to the rooftop garden, a versatile space for relaxation, small exhibitions, and community events, offering panoramic views that merge architecture with the landscape. Common Days exemplifies how contemporary design, when rooted in local materials and climate-responsive strategies, can create spaces that are both modern and deeply connected to their unique cultural and environmental context.

Architectural Harmony: Blending with Maros' Natural Beauty

INS Studio's Common Days in Maros, Indonesia, exemplifies a thoughtful architectural approach that prioritizes integration with the natural landscape. The three-level building, conceived as a vibrant gathering space, capitalizes on its position overlooking Bukit Cenrana, a significant local landmark. This strategic orientation led to the inclusion of an open-air rooftop garden, providing visitors with uninterrupted panoramic views and seamlessly weaving the majestic scenery into the architectural experience. The design consciously embraces locality through its material palette, featuring indigenous andesite stone from nearby mountains for interior surfaces and a distinctive perforated terracotta brick exterior. This blend of local resources and modern design principles fosters a profound connection between the structure and its surroundings, reinforcing the regional identity of Maros.

The initial design phases for Common Days were heavily influenced by the picturesque views of Bukit Cenrana, a defining natural feature of the Maros area. The decision to construct a three-story building with a rooftop garden was a direct response to this, ensuring that the natural beauty of the hill was not just observed but actively experienced by those within the space. The architects carefully selected local andesite stone, a material abundant in the region, for prominent interior applications such as walls, flooring, and the coffee bar. This choice not only highlights the area's geological richness but also introduces a unique square pattern that adds texture and character. The exterior is enveloped in perforated terracotta brick screens, which contribute to the building’s aesthetic appeal while also serving as a critical climate-responsive element. These natural materials establish a tactile and visual dialogue between the architecture and the lush landscape, grounding Common Days firmly in its place and celebrating Maros' unique sense of place.

Sustainable Design & Community Spaces: A Holistic Approach

Common Days by INS Studio is more than just a building; it is a meticulously designed environment that champions sustainable practices and community engagement. The ground floor houses a welcoming coffee shop, acting as a central hub for social interaction, designed to be open and inviting. This space flows effortlessly into the second floor, which offers a quieter atmosphere for work and collaboration, complete with dedicated workspaces and private meeting areas. An outdoor terrace, paved with locally manufactured terracotta bricks, extends the functional area, creating a harmonious transition between indoor productivity and outdoor relaxation. A living moss wall, meticulously cultivated by local horticulturists, adds a touch of natural serenity, underscoring the project's commitment to local resources and environmental well-being.

A key feature of the building's facade is the perforated breeze block wall, which brilliantly combines environmental functionality with striking visual appeal. This innovative screen effectively moderates the intense morning sunlight, preventing harsh glares while simultaneously allowing natural breezes from the surrounding hills to ventilate the interior spaces, particularly the second-floor terrace. This passive climate control strategy extends to the rooftop garden, envisioned as a versatile space for leisure, art exhibitions, and various community events. The rooftop, with its commanding views of Bukit Cenrana, culminates the architectural journey through the building, symbolizing a perfect convergence of built form and natural scenery. INS Studio’s Common Days project demonstrates a thoughtful response to Maros' unique character, integrating local materials, climate-conscious design, and vibrant community spaces. It serves as a model for how architecture can evolve to meet modern needs for gathering and working, all while remaining deeply respectful of and embedded in the local culture and environment, inspiring new ways of living and interacting within the growing town.