Cat and contemporary architecture on the edge of Madrid

In 2008 the financial crash bought a halt to new house building on the outskirts of Madrid. The result was a large number of skeleton estates: pavements, street lighting, bins and benches had been built. But there was no money to put the meat on the bones.

Over the last four to five years the building has started once again. Cranes in their tens and twenties can be seen on the horizon. On the west side of Madrid, in Boadilla, the new architectural styles that are emerging, are shocking. The buildings, in some places, are science fiction like. They look like designer nuclear bunkers for survival on Venus or Mars. In other streets the houses look like chocolate boxes.

2019

2023

Each house is ring fenced by seven feet hire black gates and fences. They look enticing, modern and yet very well guarded, as if the owners ought to be very wary of what lurks outside on the pavement. The streets are therefore sterile, quiet, silent, full of fear. There is an uneasy calm. There is no life on the streets, no-one walks, no-one plays, no-one goes about their business.