CaixaForum Madrid

This cultural center along the Paseo del Prado occupies a converted early twentieth-century power station, reworked by Swiss architects who removed its stone base so the brick structure appears to float above the pavement. A rusted steel upper section and an adjacent vertical garden covering an entire wall make it instantly recognizable. Inside, changing exhibitions cover art, photography, and science across several floors. Its contrast of industrial heritage and contemporary design has made it a landmark of the museum district.