Hipódromo de la Zarzuela

The Hipódromo de la Zarzuela is a race course on the outskirts of Madrid, Spain. It was designed in the 1930s. The architecture is in a modernist style which has been described as racionalismo madrileño.[1]

La Zarzuela race course with its distinctive roof

Races held at the facility include the Gran Premio de Madrid which has been held there since 1941.

History

The Hipódromo de la Zarzuela was designed to replace the Hipódromo de la Castellana,[2] a course on the Paseo de la Castellana. The old course was demolished in the 1930s so that the site could be redeveloped as office buildings.

The architects were Carlos Arniches Moltó and Martín Domínguez Esteban, who had been collaborating since the 1920s. For this project, they were joined by the engineer Eduardo Torroja, a pioneer in the design of concrete shell structures.[3] His work on the stands with their distinctive roof is recognised internationally.

The new race course was in an advanced state in 1936, but damage caused by the Spanish Civil War delayed completion. Inauguration took place in 1941.[4]

Conservation

The race course is protected by a heritage listing Bien de Interes Cultural.[1] As well as listing the stands and other structures for protection, the citation refers to the paddock and pelouse (infield) as being of interest.[5]

See also

References
  1. "El hipódromo de la Zarzuela, monumento histórico-artístico". El Pais (in Spanish). 1980.
  2. Caruana, Pablo (2014). "Un hipódromo en la Castellana". El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  3. In 2016 a Torroja museum opened at the racecourse. See Museo Eduardo Torroja
  4. "El hipódromo de la Zarzuela" (in Spanish).
  5. The protected area includes the following, Conjunto de edificaciones enlazadas, formado por restaurante sur, tribuna sur, tribuna central y tribuna norte, más otros dos pequeños edificios de planta cuadrada, situados en la parte oeste de la zona. Además se incluyen el paddock y sus tres galerías perimetrales; el jardín norte, el jardín sur, su galería oeste y sus arcos de entrada; y la pelouse.
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