Today we stop at a work considered less than José Urioste Velada, this architect born in Don Benito, Badajoz in 1850, worked a lot in Madrid. Some of his best-known works are the main access doors to the Retiro (such as the Puerta de la Independencia, the Puerta de España and Puerta de Hernani). We already mentioned here that Independence Gate was initially located in the Queen's Casino in the Ronda de Toledo, from where it was moved to serve as the entrance to the Retiro.

Among his works in Madrid, which will be paraded through our 365, are: the building of the old palace-house of the dukes of Sueca and Alcudia (today very famous for her appearance in the series The Ministry of Time). The one from Lázaro Galdiano Museum (Old “Parque Florido” palace and La España Moderna editorial headquarters) located on Serrano Street and a stop at many of our hidden garden bike routes, or the building of the Ophthalmic Institute  on General Arrando street in Madrid.

And of course today's protagonist the old Molina Marbles warehouse located on Concepción Jerónima street, number 20, very close to La Latina and Plaza Mayor. The architect and urban planner Urioste was fond of using both neoplateresque and neomudejar elements. An attempt to create a Spanish architecture, resorting to the predominant styles of the glorious eras of Spain (Catholic Monarchs, Imperial Spain...). With these foundations, Urioste made a particular nationalist architecture known in Europe with the construction of the Spanish Pavilion for the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1900.

Of the building from the late 90th century, only the façade is preserved, which reminds us of Renaissance buildings. In the early XNUMXs, the building was demolished by its new owner, the Día Textil company, which opened a textile products store. Since the historic façade of Mármoles Molina was protected by the General Plan of the Madrid City Council, it had to be installed again after the renovation.

He is still there, surprising and giving us a mocking wink, trying to deceive us with his surprising style in a city like Madrid.

A abrazo.