Alcorcón city Glass Art Museum MAVA 

In 1917 the Marquises of Valderas ordered the construction of the castles. Originally three buildings were built: The big Castle -palace and residence-, the small Castle -a chapel under the advocation of St. Joseph- and a third one for the horse stables and the servants' bedrooms. This one does not exist today.

The buildings are an example of the taste of the époque, so attached to History. Their author, the architect Luis Sainz de los Terreros (Madrid 1876-1936), was one of the foremost representatives of the Madrid style at the beginning of the XX Century.

Abandoned by the Valderas family at the beginning of the Civil War and after having been used for different purposes, at the end of the '80's the heirs of the Marquises donated to the Council of Alcorcón the two buildings together with the surrounding land. Later on, the Council undertook the restoration of the two castles as well as the demolition of the third building, which was in ruins. The project involved preserving the external aspect of the castles and their style while the inside was completely refurbished with modern facilities. The Big Castle, where the MAVA is lodged, was provided with new rooms and services appropriated to the change of usage: meeting room, coffee shop, multi-purpose room, temporary exhibitions room, offices and library.

The restoration

In the Big Castle, three of the four original facades were preserved and the back one was redesigned so that it would give room for the main staircase. The inside of the Castle was completely renewed with roomy areas adequate to the new purpose and architectural barriers were eliminated. Around the Castles ponds and jet fountains were constructed thus connecting this new "Urban park" with the adjacent green areas.