Heating plant of Ciudad Universitaria, Industrial building in Ciudad Universitaria district, Madrid, Spain
The heating plant of Ciudad Universitaria is an industrial building made of red brick with two separate volumes connected by clean lines. The structure prioritizes practical function over decoration, reflecting rationalist design principles of its era.
The facility was designed in 1932 by Manuel Sánchez Arcas and Eduardo Torroja, winning the National Architecture Award that same year. This recognition established it as an important milestone in Spanish architectural development.
The structure represents early Spanish rationalist architecture, incorporating influences from Dutch design and modern architectural principles of the 1920s.
The building can be viewed from outside along with surrounding campus structures that showcase the same architectural style. The main plaza of the university provides good vantage points to observe the facility's distinctive brick facade.
The heating plant was originally designed to burn coal but later converted to run on diesel fuel and eventually natural gas. These fuel transitions allowed it to operate more cost-effectively compared to similar facilities in the area.
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