There is no greater honor than being known by a nickname. And that’s exactly what happens with Fernando Higueras’s buildings—their nickname is their official name. The analogy (skyscraper of hell, crown of thorns) transcends official rhetoric, and that implicit poetry sparks enthusiasm. It’s as if we were saying: I want to see that building.
That may be why tickets to visit the Corona de Espinas this Friday as part of Open House Madrid have already sold out. The circular concrete building that stands out in Ciudad Universitaria is one of the main attractions of the open house event, but there’s an alternative for those who didn’t manage to secure a reservation.
The trick is that the headquarters of the Spanish Institute of Cultural Heritage (IPCE) has its own program of tours for the general public.
The building with the pointed skylights
The Corona de Espinas is one of the most unique buildings in 20th-century Madrid. It was designed by Fernando Higueras and Antonio Miró in 1965 as a center for restoration and training of restorers, and since 1985 it has housed the IPCE.
Its nickname is obvious from a distance: a circular structure of exposed concrete, divided into large radial sections and topped by triangular skylights that look like spikes. Inside, specialists work to research, document, and restore part of Spain’s cultural heritage.
The building was designated a Site of Cultural Interest in 2001 and is one of those places that are usually open to the public only on very specific dates.
Another way to visit the Corona de Espinas
The IPCE organizes tours for the general public every Thursday at 12:00 p.m. They last about 90 minutes, have a capacity of 20 people, and offer a general overview of the institute’s facilities and services. Reservations can be requested by emailing reservas@visitas-ipce.es.
For those willing to wait a few weeks, there are also two special tours as part of Science Week, scheduled for November 18 and 24, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.