Torres de Colón

The Torres de Colón, also known as the Columbus Towers, are a striking high-rise complex on the Plaza de Colón in Madrid's Almagro district. Designed by the Spanish architect Antonio Lamela and built between 1968 and 1976, the complex consists of two twin towers that originally rested on a shared base. One of its most notable features is its technical innovation: the floors were suspended from the top down from a hanging structure, which kept the ground level free for parking and pedestrian traffic. This method of construction allowed the loads to be transferred through a central core into the foundations, resulting in an open, column-free interior layout. The complex dominates the Plaza de Colón, an important commercial and traffic hub that is also home to the Jardines del Descubrimiento.

The building's history is marked by changing uses and controversial alterations. Originally conceived as luxury apartments, it was converted into office space following construction stoppages and legal disputes. After being taken over by various owners, including the Rumasa group and later the insurance company Mutua Madrileña, the towers went through several renovations. A drastic intervention came in the 1990s, when an external emergency staircase was added between the towers and a controversial rooftop structure shaped like an electrical outlet was installed, greatly altering the building's appearance. Between 2020 and 2024, the complex underwent another comprehensive renovation. The architect Luis Vidal removed the old base floors and the outlet-shaped crown and replaced them with new four-story structures that now link the two towers more strongly, both visually and functionally.

Today the Torres de Colón mainly house offices, with the law firm Garrigues having leased the entire space for twelve years starting in 2025. The building is part of the urban fabric of the Plaza de Colón, which is lined with other historic and modern buildings such as the Centro Colón and the Palacete de los Condes de Egaña. The Torres de Colón remain a polarizing Madrid landmark, known both for their pioneering architecture and for the debates over how well they fit into the skyline. You can admire the building from the plaza, whose open design and adjoining gardens make it an inviting public space.