Cine Callao
In the Plaza de Callao, the cinema of the same name has been located since 1926, the first work of the architect Luis GutiΓ©rrez Soto and probably the most famous cinema in the Spanish capital. The building in Art Deco style is one of the landmarks of the city centre. Different sections of the faΓ§ade are divided by squares covered with a continuous sgraffito of stylised vases and rays, similar to the brocade patterns made in interiors by the great French designer Jacques Γmile Ruhlmann. In the recent renovation, the original facades were painted in the existing shades to preserve the historic look of the building.
- Architect:
- Luis GutiΓ©rrez Soto
- Photos:
- Silvia Caballero
- Location:
- Madrid, Spain
- Products:
- Soldalit
- Contact Plus
- Universalputz-fein
Careful renovation of a landmark
Gran VΓa was the largest and most important shopping street in Madrid until the 1960s. Even today, it still characterises the cityscape with its architectural facades and the wide range of shopping, gastronomy and culture on offer and is one of the most attractive boulevards in the world. Plaza de Callao, one of the most visited squares in Europe, has been home to the cinema of the same name since 1926, the first work of architect Luis GutiΓ©rrez Soto and probably the most famous cinema in the Spanish capital. The Art Deco-style building is one of the landmarks of the centre of Madrid and the sgraffito decorations used here underline the historical value of the building. They are an excellent example of the decorative art of the early 20th century, in which parts of the still fresh layer of plaster on the faΓ§ade are scraped away to reveal layers of contrasting colours underneath. The various sections of the Cine Callao faΓ§ade are divided into squares covered with a continuous sgraffito of stylised vases and rays, similar to the brocade patterns that the great French designer Jacques Γmile Ruhlmann made in interiors.
The Cine Callao in Madrid is known for its magnificent facade, which is decorated with artistic sgraffito techniques, among other things.
The iconic facade of the Callao cinema was restored in 2022. KEIM Universalputz-Fein, a lime cement-based renovation and facade thin-layer plaster, was used for repair work on the windows, cornices and parts of the facade. KEIM Contact-Plus was used to equalise the structural differences in the repair areas in order to ensure a homogeneous appearance of the facade. KEIM Soldalit sol-silicate paint was used to protect and colour the facade and its sgraffito elements. In order to preserve the historical appearance of the building, sample areas were created in advance for the colour selection. The colour scheme was to be based on the original colour tones. The final choice fell on colours from the KEIM Exclusive range: 9092 and 9115 for the facade and 9003S and 9870 for the sgraffito.
Cine Callao is located in the immediate neighbourhood of many other buildings on Madrid's Gran VΓa whose facades have been restored with KEIM silicate paints. These include, for example, the βCirculo de Bellas Artesβ cultural centre and the famous βEdificio EspaΓ±aβ skyscraper at the end of the Gran Via, which was designed by the brothers JuliΓ‘n and JoaquΓn Otamendi in the neo-baroque style. With a height of 117 metres, it was the tallest building in Spain upon completion. In the course of its history, it was mainly used as a hotel. After two years of complete interior renovation, it was opened in 2019 as the Hotel Riu Plaza EspaΓ±a. The facade was coloured with KEIM Soldalit. The interventions on individual buildings are gradually creating a network of mineral-painted facades that subtly change the appearance of the city centre and preserve this unique architecture for posterity.
