DAVID CHIPPERFIELD RE-OPENS THE PEREDA BUILDING IN THE CITY
David Chipperfield Architects complements it transformation of the historic Pereda building in the northern part of Faro Santander, a new center of art, culture and technology due to open on 8 September 2026. Formerly the head office of Banco Santander, the listed building now contains more than 10,000 square meters of usable space over ten levels, marking its first studio museum project completed in the country.
The complex has evolved gradually since its first sections were built in 1795, resulting in a multi-layered interior shaped by different periods, architectural languages and institutional uses. Located on the waterfront of Santander, a city in of Spain north coast, the building presented a monumental exterior while the previous one offices remained largely private and compartmentalized. The intervention reorganizes these spaces around a more open and publicly accessible sequence.
new additions introduce a modern level | all images from Juan Baraja
THE CENTRAL BEND BECOME THE PUBLIC SPINE OF THE BUILDING
David Chipperfield Architects reinterprets the monumental central arch of the building as the main organizational element of the project. Partially enclosing its upper level, the studio turns the large void into a visible circulation spine that connects the floors of the exhibition and reveals the movement inside the building from the entrance.
New access points under the arch reinforce its role as a gateway between the city and Santander Bay. Inside, a spiral staircase of exposed concrete begins a series of steps that rise through the arch and connect the entrance to the arcades above. Lightweight steel structures define the new interventions by David Chipperfield Architects, including the enclosed arch and rooftop pavilion, in contrast to the massive and material character of the existing building.
the historic Pereda building overlooks Santander Bay
ADAPTIVE REUSE SUPPORTS A LOW IMPACT CULTURAL BUILDING
Approximately 3,000 square meters are spread over five exhibition levels, while the upper floors host a terrace cafe and restaurant with views of the city and the bay. Three underground levels include an auditorium, technical infrastructure and the systems needed to support the new cultural program.
The project preserves and adapts the existing structure rather than replacing it, reducing the waste and embodied carbon associated with new construction. Geothermal energy and a thermally activated building system regulate the indoor climate, while green roofs, rainwater reuse, cycling infrastructure and the recovery of more than 95 percent of construction waste extend the environmental strategy. The project has received a BREEAM Exceptional design-stage rating of 92.96, described by the team as the highest ever recorded for a museum or cultural centre.
visitors move through a series of interconnected spaces
