La Luna de Madrid
Madrid has long cultivated a distant yet profound love affair with the great myths and gods of antiquity. For centuries, the city’s rhythm has revolved around deities such as Cybele, Neptune, and, above all, the Sun. However, it is truly the Moon that Madrid and its people adore. This ancestral fascination with the Moon intensified in the 1980s, when the capital embraced its nightlife and reshaped its identity. Dos de Mayo Square became the vibrant epicentre of Madrid’s nocturnal scene, reflected in the renowned publication La Luna de Madrid. Today, this bond with the Moon inspires our vision for the square: a warm and welcoming space that fosters encounters, revitalises the past, and looks expectantly towards the future.
Geometric Design and Historical Inspiration
Our proposal is rooted in the original 1879 design of the square, reinterpreting its forms into a series of organic islands defined with geometric precision. This approach ensures an accessible and fluid surface while respecting the Arco de Monteleón and the Daoiz and Velarde statue, enhancing both mobility and the use of public space.
A Contemporary Urban Agora
The square is conceived as a communal space, drawing inspiration from landmarks such as the Piazza del Campo in Siena and the forecourt of the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Its gently sloping topography creates a seamless visual sequence, free of obstacles, enhancing safety and enabling a variety of public uses in a flexible and dynamic setting.
An Oasis of Greenery and Shade
The project enhances vegetation with native species, following Piet Oudolf’s theory of dynamic planting, ensuring a landscape that changes with the seasons. Existing trees are preserved, while new species are introduced according to Humphry Repton’s one-third rule, fostering
Urban Continuity and Symbolism
The heart of the square will feature a tragadero inspired by Italian architecture, which, besides serving as a drainage solution, reinforces its identity as a space connecting history and the city. Concentric circles in the paving extend their influence to adjacent streets, consolidating its role as a meeting point and landmark in Malasaña. This proposal reinterprets the Plaza del Dos de Mayo as a “Moon” inhabited by Madrileños and visitors alike, blending tradition and modernity into a vibrant, accessible, and meaningful space.
Architects: Donaire Milans Arquitectos, Jesús Donaire, María Milans del Bosch. Landscape: Citerea S.L. Collaborators: Carlos Pérez, Marcos Osés, Ana Renedo, Marta Esteban-Infantes.
