Situated in the heart of the capital, near Puerta del Sol, Centro Canalejas Madrid is the end result of a major architectural and urban project: the refurbishment of seven existing buildings, two of them from the 19th century, that had been converted into one large facility after a series of bank mergers but had fallen into disuse. Following the renovation, this enclave at the confluence of calles Alcalá and Sevilla is now home to a 5-star hotel run by the Four Seasons chain, a shopping arcade spread across 15,000 sqm, 22 luxury apartments, and a car park with 400 spaces.
Empty was commissioned to provide the finishes for an apartment characterised by the quality of the natural light and the views from the balcony, the materials—most notably, natural claddings such as wood, rattan, Italian stone and marble in particular—and the furniture defined by the architect Patricia Urquiola. The details and overall harmony were the most demanding aspects of this domestic project, for which certain items of furniture (side tables, minibar, dressing table, hallway unit, TV console, etc.) were designed specially. Another aspect that required meticulous attention was the installation of the home automation systems for the temperature management and lighting of the different spaces. Empty also integrated the audiovisual equipment throughout the apartment, including the balcony.
