Madrid's Former Banco Madrid HQ Reopens as ING Branch After Decade of Abandonment
An iconic building in central Madrid, formerly the headquarters of the defunct Banco Madrid, is set to reopen as an ING Direct branch this September after more than ten years of abandonment and controversy. Located in Margaret Thatcher Square near Plaza de Colón, the structure has endured a turbulent history since Banco Madrid was intervened by the Bank of Spain in 2015 following a money laundering scandal. The property subsequently fell into disrepair and was squatted in 2017 by the ultra-right group Hogar Social, whose occupants were evicted by police in 2018. In 2021, consulting firm ARQ acquired the building for the GPF fund, initially considering it for a European Parliament office before plans changed. Renovation was led by the award-winning architectural studio Tuñón y Albornoz. The restored facility aims to provide an innovative customer experience, marking the end of a bizarre chapter that saw the site transition from a financial hub to a symbol of urban decay and political protest, before its eventual rescue and revitalization by the banking sector.
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Madrid's Former Banco Madrid HQ Reopens as ING Branch After Decade of Abandonment
An iconic building in central Madrid, formerly the headquarters of the defunct Banco Madrid, is set to reopen as an ING Direct branch this September after more than ten years of abandonment and controversy. Located in Margaret Thatcher Square near Plaza de Colón, the structure has endured a turbulent history since Banco Madrid was intervened by the Bank of Spain in 2015 following a money laundering scandal. The property subsequently fell into disrepair and was squatted in 2017 by the ultra-right group Hogar Social, whose occupants were evicted by police in 2018. In 2021, consulting firm ARQ acquired the building for the GPF fund, initially considering it for a European Parliament office before plans changed. Renovation was led by the award-winning architectural studio Tuñón y Albornoz. The restored facility aims to provide an innovative customer experience, marking the end of a bizarre chapter that saw the site transition from a financial hub to a symbol of urban decay and political protest, before its eventual rescue and revitalization by the banking sector.
Portada // elmundo