garciagerman arquitectos desert city cactus center near madrid

garciagerman arquitectos’ desert city: in san sebastián de los reyes, a town located just north of madrid, garciagerman arquitectos has completed one of the most significant cactus centers in europe. the project hosts a wide selection of xerophyte plants within its expansive botanical garden. an indoor greenhouse provides additional space for vegetation beneath a roof constructed with the help of tensioned cables. documented here by imagen subliminal, the complex is open to the public seven days a week and even offers guided tours.

all images and video of garciagerman arquitectos’ desert city by miguel de guzmán + rocío romero / imagen subliminal

conceived by architect jacobo garcía-germán as a ‘billboard building’, an elevated longitudinal structure runs parallel to the road and is organized internally by a sequence of spaces articulated around a cloister-like garden. meanwhile, desert city’s greenhouse is topped with a roof canopy that contains a gallery and sales space, a restaurant, a shop, storage, and office areas. consequently, the venue is able to host presentations, conventions, workshops, and exhibitions.

the venue forms one of the most significant cactus centers in europe

prefabricated and modular elements have been used in every part of the project’s construction, resulting in a sprawling structure that spans large distances. throughout the scheme, sustainable solutions have been incorporated in order to save energy, including photovoltaic glass, geothermal power, water recovery, and solar control. meanwhile, the site’s extensive planting has completely transformed the nature of the plot, which was previously an unused wasteland.

‘dessert city’ is located in san sebastián de los reyes, a town just north of madrid

the project hosts a wide selection of xerophyte plants within an expansive botanical garden

the complex is open to the public seven days a week

an indoor greenhouse provides additional space for vegetation

the roof has been constructed with the help of tensioned cables

the greenhouse contains a gallery and sales space, a restaurant, and a shop

the venue is able to host presentations, workshops, and exhibitions

prefabricated elements have been used throughout the project’s construction

the sprawling structure is able to span large distances

sustainable strategies have been incorporated in order to save energy

extensive planting has completely transformed the site, which was previously an unused wasteland

1/8

garciagerman arquitectos desert city san sebastian de los reyes madrid spain designboom

project info:

name: desert city
location: san sebastián de los reyes, madrid, spain
architect: garciagerman arquitectos / jacobo garcía-germán
team: jacobo garcía-germán, miguel lópez, raquel díaz de la campa, marta garcía laura carrero, martha sosa dias, lidia de lucas, marta roldán, andrea gutierrez, victoria álvarez, margot roset, paula lizcano, alba gil, celia sánchez
contractor: isolux corsán
furniture: 109 fablab
photography and film: imagen subliminal (miguel de guzmán + rocío romero)
communication: pati nuñez agency