“Residencial La Chimenea” in Chinchón, Madrid: Newly Built Traditional Architecture for a Historic Townscape

Abstract

This project arose for the purpose of developing a new residential complex on the site of the former Alcoholera de Chinchón distillery, located on the edge of the historic town center of Chinchón near Madrid. It was a fine opportunity to apply the unvarying features of local traditional architecture on a large scale. The aim was to integrate vernacular qualities so as to create a consolidated urban fringe that would blend with the historic center and also shield it. Thus a mixed residential and commercial solution was proposed, with alternating volumes of different heights on a plan organized around a plaza and an inner pedestrian street. The hallmarks of the complex are its continuous blue balconies and the chimney of the former distillery rearing above the ensemble as an iconic landmark.