CaixaForum Madrid is a free cultural centre housed in a striking converted power station on Paseo del Prado. The building appears to float above street level, with its brick facade cantilevered over an open ground floor. Inside, two floors of large exhibition halls host rotating temporary shows -- the programming is consistently strong and always free.
Next to the building, a five-storey vertical garden designed by Patrick Blanc covers an entire wall with 15,000 plants of 250 species. It is one of the most photographed spots on the Paseo del Arte. There is also a fine auditorium hosting concerts and lectures.