Renowned Spanish architect and designer Patricia Urquiola has completed her first-ever residential project in Madrid with Casa Lamar Cedaceros 9, a luxury property that represents a new standard for high-end living in Spain's capital. Located in one of Madrid's most prestigious neighborhoods, just steps from the Four Seasons Hotel and within walking distance of the Prado Museum, El Retiro Park, and Gran Vía, the exclusive development features only 22 carefully crafted residences ranging from one to five-bedroom apartments.
Madrid has emerged as a magnet for high-net-worth individuals, surpassing Barcelona in popularity among the global elite. The city's enhanced connectivity through expanded high-speed rail links and one of Europe's most connected airports, combined with a vibrant cultural scene and thriving tech ecosystem, has reinforced its strategic role as a hub. "Madrid manages to strike an authentic balance: cosmopolitan but welcoming, urban yet manageable," explains Valeria Cimonetti of Driven Properties, who has worked extensively with international families relocating to the Spanish capital.
The city's appeal extends beyond lifestyle factors to practical investment considerations. As a spokesperson from Knight Frank Spain notes, Madrid serves as home to headquarters of multinational firms that leverage the city's position as a key triangulation hub between Europe, Latin America, and the rest of the world. This strategic positioning, combined with institutional and fiscal stability, makes it particularly attractive to affluent mobile professionals. "Buyers are becoming more strategic and demanding. They value transparency, speed in administrative processes, and a clear path to return on investment. Madrid delivers on these fronts better than Barcelona today," Cimonetti adds.
Casa Lamar Cedaceros 9 was developed by Lamar Development, a firm known for collaborating with top architects, who enlisted Urquiola specifically for the interior design while Madrid-based Touza Arquitectos handled the architectural restoration. The building's heritage was carefully preserved, with the team restoring the travertine marble street facade and maintaining the neo-Mudéjar red brick courtyard façade. This approach reflects Urquiola's philosophy of creating dialogue between memory and transformation rather than simply erasing the past.
The property offers hotel-grade amenities befitting its ultra-luxury positioning, including 24-hour concierge service, a private sommelier-curated wine cellar, a modern fitness center, and a spa featuring a 35-square-meter swimming pool with contrast therapy pools. A landscaped roof garden with bar provides residents with an elevated outdoor space in the heart of the city. The intimate scale of just 22 residences allows for what Urquiola describes as "personalized luxury" rather than ostentatious excess.
In discussing her approach to the project, Urquiola emphasized the importance of the location's character. "It's right in the very center, but it's not obvious or predictable. It's an area that is being revitalized in an interesting way—you feel the energy of the city, its pulse, but also what it was before," she explains. Her design philosophy focuses on creating homes that are "easy to live in, where the value comes from atmosphere, from light, from materials that feel good under your hands and feet."
The interior design showcases Urquiola's signature approach of blending unexpected elements and creating spatial dialogue. Statement features include a sculptural staircase and kitchens designed as adaptable systems that can shift and open depending on residents' needs. The wellness area is softened with sheer curtains, while throughout the spaces, Urquiola employed contrasts between glossy and matte surfaces, creating what she describes as conversations between different textures and materials.
Urquiola incorporated furniture and design pieces from her longtime collaborations with prestigious brands including Cassina, cc-tapis, Flos, Glas Italia, and Spanish companies Kettal and Andreu World. Many of these selections reflect her commitment to sustainability and circular design principles. The Cassina Mon-cloud system in living areas features metal frames wrapped in quilted recycled PET fiber padding, while the seat cushions use recycled PET combined with polyurethane containing bio-based polyols.
The material palette throughout Casa Lamar Cedaceros 9 demonstrates Urquiola's expertise in creating sophisticated spatial experiences. The interiors feature green Antigua marble, Calacatta Viola, rovere Civita wood, terracotta, glossy tiles, and terrazzo. "What interests me is the conversation between surfaces, glossy against matte, the warmth of wood beside the coolness of stone. These juxtapositions make the spaces breathe," Urquiola explains.
Another example of the sustainable design approach is the Babar series for Glas Italia, comprising low and high tables produced entirely from leftover materials. Made from 100% recycled glass grit blended with polymers partly derived from renewable plant-based sources, each table is handcrafted with an irregular surface and organic shape, making every piece unique. This attention to both environmental responsibility and artisanal craftsmanship reflects the broader values embedded in the project.
Urquiola's design philosophy extends beyond traditional gender-based categorizations in design. "I don't think design should be read as feminine or masculine. For me it's about cultivating a certain attitude, an understanding, a curiosity, and sometimes even a small surprise into the space," she notes. This approach manifests in subtle details throughout the residences, from the interplay of light and shadow to the tactile qualities of different surfaces.
Sales for Casa Lamar Cedaceros 9 began in September 2025, marking a significant addition to Madrid's luxury residential landscape. The project represents not just Urquiola's first residential work in Madrid, but also a reflection of the city's evolution as Southern Europe's emerging hub for capital, talent, and innovation. As Madrid continues to attract international residents and investors, developments like Casa Lamar Cedaceros 9 set new standards for luxury living that honor the city's heritage while embracing contemporary design excellence.
