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Fundación Canal
It's 1851, and water reaches Madrid for the first time. Engineers build a lift station here at Mateo Inurria to pump it across the city. In 2001—exactly one hundred fifty years later—Fundación Canal opens at this very spot to celebrate that triumph. Head downstairs to Castellana 214, and you'll see the original underground tank: one hundred forty-four red brick arches towering seven and a half metres high, still feeding water to Madrid today while hosting world-class contemporary art.
Did You Know?
- : The Fundación Canal is housed in two remarkable spaces with deep historical roots: one is the former lift station at Mateo Inurria 2, and the other is the Castellana 214 Hall, which was once a massive underground water reservoir built in the 19th century to meet Madrid’s growing water needs. This reservoir, with its 144 towering brick arches and 7.5-meter ceilings, now hosts major art exhibitions, blending industrial heritage with contemporary culture.
- The Castellana 214 Hall, originally an underground water tank, is one of Madrid’s most unique exhibition spaces. Its 2,500-square-meter area and distinctive brick architecture have made it a favorite for large-scale art installations, and its transformation from a functional reservoir to a cultural venue symbolizes Madrid’s journey from industrial past to modern creativity.
- Fundación Canal’s Canal Educa program, launched in 1991, has educated over seven million students across Madrid about water conservation, climate change, and environmental stewardship through interactive workshops and bilingual resources, making it one of the region’s most impactful and enduring environmental education initiatives.