Colmenarejo hall building information - Spain modern contemporary architecture

As the main site of the Bourbon Court, the origins of the area go back to a house-cum-palace owned by the Order of Santiago, frequently used as a royal residence by both Carlos I and, formerly, Spain's 'Catholic Kings', Ferdinand and Isabella. During the reign of Felipe II, son to Carlos I, the first major changes to the landscape took place, with the levelling of the area's surface, the construction of several avenues, and the building of irrigation channels. It was also this king who ruled that nobody except members of the Royal Family and their servants could settle here, a rather bold declaration which was carried on by the various monarchs who ruled between Felipe's death and the middle of the 18th century. The main transformation of the area took place under the reign of Felipe V. As he had been raised in France, where palatial style was at the top of the design stakes, Felipe decided to update things a bit, starting off by refurbishing the Royal Sites of La Granja de San Ildefonso and Aranjuez. Fernando VI kept this tradition going when, after a great fire which destroyed a large part of the palace, he decided to extend and improve Aranjuez.