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The renovation of the Maravillas Theater is an overall plan that focuses on color, lighting and material finishes to restore the theater characteristics of the building and reshape its temperament without changing the existing structure.
The refurbishment of Teatro Maravillas restores the building’s theatrical identity through a comprehensive scheme centered on colour, light and material finishes, reshaping its character without altering the existing structure.
▼The theater exterior at night © Imagen Subliminal

The Maravillas Theater renovation aims to renew one of the most historic performance venues in Madrid’s Malasaña neighborhood. Although it had undergone a previous renovation, the theater had lost its spatial and atmospheric coherence: the color system was inconsistent, equipment pipes were exposed, the bathrooms were aging, the lighting was unorganized, and the auditorium no longer directed the eye toward the stage.
The refurbishment of Teatro Maravillas addresses the transformation of one of the most established performance venues in Madrid’s Malasaña district. Despite a previous intervention, the theater had lost spatial and atmospheric coherence: an inconsistent color palette, exposed services, deteriorated restrooms, non-articulated lighting, and an auditorium that no longer directed attention towards the stage.
▼The entrance lobby looking out towards the street © Imagen Subliminal

The project aims to restore a sense of order and spatial clarity, while at the same time retrieving the theater’s inner atmosphere, creating an immersive and restrained environment that makes the space ready for performances. The renovation was subject to one key condition: All work had to be completed during the summer. This precluded any structural changes and the design strategy shifted towards a complete redefinition of the finish, making it a backdrop that supports the overall composition.
The project seeks to restore a sense of order and spatial clarity, while recovering the theatre’s inherent atmosphere. The aim is to provide an immersive yet controlled environment, where the space is perceived as composed and prepared for performance. The intervention was defined by a key constraint: all works had to be completed during the summer period. This condition ruled out any structural modifications and led to a strategy based on a comprehensive redefinition through finishes, a background that supports the overall composition.
▼The main staircase and the blue velvet curtain © Imagen Subliminal

The scheme revolves around five main operations: color unification, improved circulation, visual integration of technical elements, enhancement of the main auditorium, and restroom redesign.
The proposal is structured around five main operations: chromatic unification, improved circulation, visual integration of technical elements, enhancement of the main auditorium, and the redesign of the restrooms.
▼The main staircase © Imagen Subliminal

▼Brass handrail and staircase details, Brass handrail and staircase details © Imagen Subliminal


Different from the usual red color of the theater interior, the project introduces a series of blue-green and turquoise colors as a continuous frame. The restrained color system brings a sense of integrity and moderation, while black is used to absorb the ceiling and equipment pipelines, forming a neutral background that supports the overall composition.
In contrast to the conventional use of red in theater interiors, the project introduces a range of blue-greens and turquoises as a continuous framework. The reduced palette brings cohesion and restraint, while black is used to absorb ceilings and services, creating a neutral background that supports the overall composition.
▼Stairs and hanging lamps,
The staircase and the suspended lighting © Imagen Subliminal

▼The lower foyer, the lower foyer © Imagen Subliminal

The foyer is conceived as a continuous sequence of spaces, combining tactile and visual qualities. Tweed carpets are matched with turquoise silk walls; a huge blue curtain reorganizes the circulation, shields the administrative office area, and enhances the presence of the main staircase defined by a brass handrail. In the lower foyer, hanging lamps guide the flow of people towards the auditorium, while the space under the stairs is closed by an integrated built-in bench.
The foyers are conceived as continuous spatial sequences, combining tactile and visual qualities. Tweed carpeting is paired with walls clad in turquoise silk. A large blue curtain reorganises circulation, concealing administrative areas and reinforcing the presence of the main staircase, which is defined by a brass handrail. In the lower foyer, suspended lighting guides movement towards the auditorium, while the space beneath the staircase is resolved with an integrated built-in bench.
▼The staircase seen from the lower foyer © Imagen Subliminal

▼The built-in bench beneath the staircase © Imagen Subliminal

▼Walls clad in turquoise silk and signage© Imagen Subliminal

The bathroom is organized around a continuous mirror that expands the spatial perception and hides technical and architectural components, paired with turquoise zellige glazed bricks and graphite-toned walls.
The restrooms are organized around a continuous mirror that expands the perceived space and conceals technical and architectural elements, combined with turquoise zellige surfaces and graphite-toned walls.
▼The restrooms © Imagen Subliminal


The auditorium is the core of this renovation. The plant-patterned carpet extends to the wall to form a continuous base and is embedded with integrated light strips. The color above gradually changes from dark green to the black of the ceiling, weakening the sense of boundaries and strengthening the orientation towards the stage. Tubular glass and brass light fixtures, along with new turquoise seating, complete the space.
▼Auditorium section © Canobardin

The auditorium forms the core of the intervention. A carpet with vegetal patterns extends onto the walls, forming a continuous base that incorporates an integrated light profile. Above, a chromatic gradient transitions from deep green to black at ceiling level, softening the perception of boundaries and reinforcing the orientation towards the stage. Tubular glass and brass luminaires, together with new turquoise seating, complete the space.
▼The auditorium and the stage © Imagen Subliminal

▼Overall view of the auditorium © Imagen Subliminal

▼Rows of seats and the vegetal-patterned walls, Rows of seats and the vegetal-patterned walls © Imagen Subliminal

▼Auditorium seating and wall luminaires, Auditorium seating and wall luminaires © Imagen Subliminal


▼Wall lamps and plant pattern carpet walls,
Wall luminaires and the carpet-clad wall © Imagen Subliminal

▼The side aisle of the auditorium © Imagen Subliminal

▼The carpeted wall along the aisle © Imagen Subliminal

▼Bespoke luminaire and carpet details, Bespoke luminaire and carpet details © Imagen Subliminal


The project achieved a precise transformation without altering the structure. Through a restrained use of colour, light and material, Theater Maravillas restores spatial coherence and consolidates its role as a contemporary performance space.
The project results in a precise transformation achieved without structural alteration. Through the controlled use of colour, light, and material, Teatro Maravillas recovers its spatial coherence and reinforces its role as a contemporary performance space.
▼Lobby floor plan © Canobardin

▼Auditorium floor plan © Canobardin

▼Staircase section, Staircase section © Canobardin

Design Office: Canobardin
Lead architects: Julio Cano, Bárbara Bardin
Design team: Isabel Liñan Payo, Claudia Espinosa de los Monteros
Project location: Calle Manuela Malasaña 6, Madrid, Spain
Project Year: 2025
Completion year: 2025
Usable area: 460 m²
Client: Teatro Maravillas
Materials: Carpet (auditorium floor and walls), velvet (curtain and seats), silk (main foyer wall), brass (stair handrails and custom-made lamps), ceramic tiles (bathroom)
Products and brands: Ege Carpets, Tejidos Europa, Arte, Mediclinics, Marazzi, Ilumisa (customized lamps)
Photography: Imagen Subliminal
Website/ Website: www.canobardin.es
Email: barbara@canobardin.es
Studio: Canobardin
Authors: Julio Cano, Bárbara Bardin
Design team: Isabel Liñan Payo, Claudia Espinosa de los Monteros
Location: Calle Manuela Malasaña 6, Madrid, Spain
Project year: 2025
Completion year: 2025
Usable floor area: 460 m²
Client: Teatro Maravillas
Materials: carpet (floor and walls of the auditorium), velvet fabric (curtains and seating), silk fabric (walls of the main lobby), brass (staircase railing and bespoke light fixtures), tiles (bathrooms)
Products and Brands: Ege Carpets, Tejidos Europa, Arte, Mediclinics, Marazzi, Ilumisa (bespoke light fixtures)
Photographer: Imagen Subliminal
Website: www.canobardin.es
Email: barbara@canobardin.es
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