Conde Duque occupies the former barracks of the Royal Guard, a vast early eighteenth century complex in Malasaña that has been converted in stages since the 1980s into Madrid's largest municipal cultural centre. The building is organised around two large courtyards, with the primary cultural spaces running through the building's longer axis: exhibition galleries, an auditorium, and a contemporary library occupy the wing facing Calle del Conde Duque. The vaulted brick-ceiling rooms — originally stabling and storage — have been kept largely in their raw condition and work well for art that benefits from height and material weight. The programme mixes contemporary art exhibitions with photography, architecture, and the kind of mid-scale cultural events that require more space than a conventional gallery but less institutional apparatus than a major museum. Admission to most exhibitions is free. The building is often quieter inside than the neighbourhood around it suggests.
Malasaña, Madrid, Spain