Zabálburu Palace and dwellings

Located on Paseo de Recoletos, this palace was planned in 1872 by architect José Segundo de Lema, following the architectural tendencies of Neo-Gothic rationalism, which, in its day, was promoted by French architect Viollet-le-Duc in his work Entretiens sur l'Architecture. Currently the headquarters of the Archive and the Francisco de Zabálburu Library.

The materials used and the composition of the doors, windows, ironwork and roofs, on the stone stairway of the forecourt, which, with two symmetrical access points, leads to the palace entrance hall and, especially, on the balcony on the chamfered corner, are all reminiscent of mediaeval architecture, transporting the onlooker to medieval Central Europe.

In the 20^th century, major reformation works took place at the Palace. The first in 1900, by architect Severiano Sainz de Lastra, consisted of enclosing spaces and internal courtyards at the height of the first floor. Subsequent reforms were performed by architect Luis Landecho and were focused on installing a greenhouse on the back patio, not a particularly suitable location since it faces north (1911), the construction of a pavilion with a smoking room and terrace (1917) and, finally, the addition of a floor on the part of the palace overlooking Calle del Marqués del Duero (1919).