Urban critical commemorative architecture plan
Introduction
The Ensanche of Madrid (also known as Plan Castro) is an expansion plan carried out in Madrid in the middle of the century.[1] The expansion was approved in 1860 and carried out starting in 1871. The name "Plan Castro" is in honor of Carlos María de Castro, one of its urban planners. The idea of accommodating the orderly growth of the city to a separation of neighborhoods by social classes was an underlying idea.[2].
The drafting of the preliminary project began in 1857, when Madrid had 271,254 inhabitants, and the planning reached a forecast of 100 years, at the end of which, according to Castro's estimate, the city would reach 450,000 inhabitants, although this forecast was quickly overwhelmed by the strong demographic growth sponsored by industrial development. Attacked from the beginning by owners of pre-existing building blocks not respected by the proposed layouts, criticized by prestigious figures, such as Ángel Fernández de los Ríos, and subjected from the beginning to pressure from economic interests, Castro's plan was soon immersed in a continuous process of modifications.
History
Contenido
Aunque el ensanche tuviera una fecha de inicio, responde a la necesidad de adecuar la ciudad de Madrid al crecimiento de población que va ocurriendo durante el siglo . El ensanche dio lugar a la nueva construcción de barrios en la periferia del casco urbano existente antes de 1800. El ensanche no nació tan solo por la necesidad de una urbe más industrial y mercantil.[3].
Chronology
04.08.1857: Royal Order, promoted by the Minister of Public Works Claudio Moyano, ordering that an expansion project for Madrid be studied.
18.05.1857: Carlos María de Castro is entrusted with the study and formation of the Madrid expansion project.
19.07.1860: Approval by Royal Decree of the “Preliminary Project for Ensanche de Madrid” prepared by Carlos María de Castro.
06.04.1864: Royal Decree, promoted by Cánovas del Castillo, by which the number of floors foreseen in the Preliminary Project is increased from three to four; The spaces dedicated to patios and gardens are reduced from 50% to 30% in areas larger than 10,000 m², and to 20% for areas smaller; and it is established that the surface area destined for particular streets be computed in these percentages.