Issue date: 10 Nov, 2020
URBAN ARCHITECTURE. ZARZUELA HIPPODROME
The stamp dedicated to Urban Architecture, which presents the Zarzuela Hippodrome, is framed on a mini sheet in diptych format that folds out intoa pop-up reproduction of the roof over the grandstand at this venue.
This grandstand is one of the most notable elements of the building thanks to the hyperboloid structure of its roof, made from reinforced concrete sheets tapering to just five centimetres thick at the overhanging edge, and supporting all the elements without reinforcement via a simple anchor point at the back.
This roof is one of the fundamental reasons why the hippodrome is a World Heritage site.
The Zarzuela Hippodrome, on the Zarzuela hill, was designed by the architects Carlos Arniches and Martín Domínguez and the engineer Eduardo Torroja. Construction of the hippodrome began in 1935, although it was not opened until May 1941 due to the Spanish Civil War.
The work of Eduardo Torroja is of particular note because he successfully integrated the project into the surrounding landscape and unified the various buildings that make up the hippodrome while also respecting the functional requirements.
This is his most widely known project internationally, an important example of avant-garde architecture and a benchmark in technological research on new construction materials.
Declared an Asset of Cultural Interest by Spain in 2009, the Zarzuela Hippodrome was restored by Junquera Arquitectos to recover the essential values of the project. This work was completed in 2015.
The stamp dedicated by Correos to this hippodrome in Madrid, which also heralds the venue’s 80th anniversary in 2021, depicts a moment from the horse races that are still held there.
The Zarzuela Hippodrome is one of the most outstanding attractions in Madrid. The best thoroughbreds can be seen running on its track and its prizes attract Spain's leading jockeys.
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