A museum building by David Chipperfield Architects (DCA) is nearing completion in Santander, Spain, denoting Chipperfield’s first museal project in the country.

The museum is located in the former headquarters of Santander Bank, the historic Pereda Building, which dates back to the 19th century. 

The Pereda Building was expanded in 1923, the year Santander moved in, by Cantabrian architect Ricardo Bastida, and then added onto again in 1961 by Javier González de Riancho.

Now, DCA has contributed to the palimpsest by steering its adaptive reuse. “Architecturally, it boasts a complex and multi-layered history,” Chipperfield said, in regard to the Pereda Building’s past.

The former banking headquarters will be renamed Faro Santander. It will host “rarely seen masterpieces” from the bank’s collection. 

The building, located on Santander’s waterfront, will contain more than 1,000 artworks. Guests will enjoy a new cafe, restaurant, and roof terrace.

The terrace cafe and restaurant will be located on the top two floors. An auditorium and building facilities will be sited in three subterranean floors.

One whole floor of the museum will be dedicated to the permanent Banco Santander Collection. Another floor will stage temporary exhibitions.

Space will also be set aside “for experimentation and discovery for families,” DCA said.

As a listed landmark on Spain’s register, preservation of the Pereda Building’s features was paramount. The facade, and its signature arch, remain intact. The rounded portal was added in the 1961 renovation to link the existing building with a replica of it.

All of the floors, down to the basement level three stories down, were replaced by DCA. The new upper levels are expressed in white walls, pale wood flooring, and exposed concrete, washed in natural light. 

In the renovation, DCA repositioned the arch “as a space of connection” and the building’s “central spine.” It forms the main circulation core.

Noticeable new additions include a spiral staircase made of exposed concrete. The staircase connects the entryway, in the arch, to the galleries. A new lightweight rooftop pavilion, made of steel, was also built.

“We focused on rethinking the spaces and connections a public building needs, while recognizing that the real significance of the project lies in the institution’s commitment to openness, culture and participation,” Chipperfield said.

To conserve artworks, DCA deployed an innovative climate-control system, leveraging geothermal energy and thermally activated building systems. It also has a green roof and a rainwater reuse irrigation system.

David Chipperfield was awarded the Pritzker Prize in 2023. The architect was recognized by the jury for his contributions to museum architecture, like Faro Santander, that weaves past with present. 

Faro Santander has achieved BREEAM Outstanding certification and, according to DCA, received the highest BREEAM rating to date for a museum and cultural project. 

After a nine-year renovation, Faro Santander will open on September 8.