Bankinter Building
Rafael Moneo; Ramón Bescós · Madrid, Spain · 1976
The Bankinter Building by Rafael Moneo and Ramón Bescós inserts a new headquarters into a site already occupied by a historic villa on Paseo de la Castellana. Completed in 1976, its carefully proportioned brick elevations establish a relationship with the existing house while giving the bank a clear contemporary identity. Deep openings and precise corners make the masonry feel substantial rather than decorative. The project is particularly useful for studying how a large office programme can respond to an older urban setting. Its public architectural experience is primarily from the surrounding streets. Visiting: An operating bank headquarters. Exterior viewing only unless access is authorized.