Telefónica’s Centenary has left us with some very special moments and major milestones this year. One of them was the remodelling of the Gran Vía 28 shop, a magnificent work of encounter between the past and the future of the company. We recovered the architectural and historical legacy of 100 years to coexist with the latest in innovation and entertainment, in a complete and avant-garde proposal.
The original Telefónica headquarters is one of the most iconic buildings in Madrid. Inaugurated in 1929, with a height of 90 metres and 13 floors, it was quite an event: the first skyscraper in Madrid and, for some time, the tallest building in Europe.
It was born with the aim of deploying the best telecommunications infrastructures of the time to put them at the service of our customers. A new automatic switchboard replaced the manual switchboard on Calle Mayor, and became the central offices and presidential headquarters of Telefónica. Here you can learn more about the history of Gran Vía 28, a very interesting story that includes key moments, such as the first transoceanic call made in Spain.
Today it is still a jewel in the heart of Gran Vía, with that special style of New York inspiration and Spanish neo-baroque. Elegant and functional, imposing and simple.
The refurbishment, a signature and a portrait
Inside, the most ambitious refurbishment of this type of building to date has been carried out, with a total remodelling of the first two floors. This great collaborative work has left many experiences and some anecdotes such as the discovery of the signature of the author of the frescoes on the ceilings: Agustín Espí Carbonell, a relevant painter of the time, who participated in other significant works of the most diverse nature, such as the Bank of Spain, the Liria palace and even the sets for the new cinemas that were being born in Gran Vía, among others.
The paintings on the 6,000-square-metre ceilings of Gran Vía add grandeur, distinction and beauty to the building, with fresco paintings using pigments and gold leaf.
Get to know the work of Espí Carbonell, through his granddaughter on the telephone, and the experiences and anecdotes surrounding this fascinating decorative painter and his magnificent and diverse mural work, in trompe l’oeil, oil…
And don’t forget to visit the new Espacio Movistar, which in this unique setting of history and art, you can enjoy the largest Movistar shop in Spain: a cinema, a television set, two studios for recording content, a space for gaming and the Movistar Café, as well as a direct connection to Espacio Fundación Telefónica.
