Hippo-dromos

In the Hippo-Dromos workshop, we will seek to revive the legacy and memory of architects Martín Domínguez and Carlos Arniches. Through a simple and fun approach, we will explore the design of structural forms using thin sheets of paper, experimenting with their strength, lightness and apparent fragility. In the 1930s, the architectural team of Martín Domínguez and Carlos Arniches developed promising projects, becoming leading figures in international architectural rationalism and modernism with one of their most important works, the La Zarzuela Racecourse.

In the Hippo-Dromos workshop, we will seek to revive the legacy and memory of these architects, whose remarkable work was interrupted by the outbreak of the military uprising in 1936, forcing architect Martín Domínguez into exile. Through a simple and fun approach, we will explore the design of structural forms using thin sheets of paper, experimenting with their strength, lightness and apparent fragility.

About La Zarzuela Racecourse

After winning the public competition in 1934, and working in collaboration with engineer Eduardo Torroja, the project became one of Madrid’s most iconic structures, revolutionising the international architectural scene with its thin concrete shells, which provided unobstructed views of the track from the stands, free of supporting columns.

Its functionalist approach, closely aligned with European rationalism, combined with regionalist elements such as whitewashed walls and traditional Arab-style roof tiles, led to the racecourse being declared a Site of Cultural Interest and a National Monument years later.

In this work, the equestrian inspiration drawn from the horses’ walk and gallop is reflected in the succession of curves formed by the arcades and cantilevered vaults that shape the overall structure. These elements seek to recreate the visual rhythm and dynamism of a horse moving around the track.