BIG builds a temporary city for shakira in madrid with reusable structures

In a groundbreaking approach to concert venues, the Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) has reimagined Madrid’s Iberdrola Music venue for Shakira’s upcoming residency by crafting an ephemeral urban environment rather than a traditional stadium. Spanning some 185,000 square meters in Villaverde, this innovative project, dubbed Macondo Park, blends performance space with a vibrant, multi-dimensional cultural hub designed to enrich the audience experience well beyond the music itself.

The centerpiece of the design is a stadium that accommodates over 50,000 spectators, yet the scope extends far beyond seating arrangements. Instead of focusing solely on the performance stage, BIG’s vision orchestrates the entire visitor journey across a network of colorful paths and varied pavilions, integrating elements such as markets, culinary venues, art installations, fashion showcases, cinema areas, and dedicated children’s zones. This strategy transforms the event site into a lively, interactive town-like setting where engagement and discovery are continuous.

A central landmark within Macondo Park is the Macondo Tree, a symbolic gathering point that anchors the expansive grounds and evokes a communal town square atmosphere. This feature is complemented by the strategic planting of over 500 trees and landscaped islands inspired by Mediterranean, Spanish, and Latin American flora. These natural additions not only introduce shade and comfort but also scale down the vast venue into more intimate, inviting spaces, enhancing the overall environmental quality.

BIG’s design concept draws inspiration from Gabriel García Márquez’s fictional town of Macondo, a narrative framework that merges storytelling with cultural celebration. This thematic underpinning informs the site’s layout and programming, emphasizing a collective experience that honors Latin American cultural pillars through eight of the main pavilions. Each pavilion offers a distinct thematic encounter, accessible via color-coded routes that guide visitors through a curated sequence of environments.

The architectural approach embraces practicality and sustainability. Given the temporary nature of the installation, the design team optimized the use of standard event infrastructure such as trusses, scaffolding, shipping containers, and stage supports. These elements are cloaked in vibrant fabrics to create visually cohesive and inviting spaces while maintaining functionality. This modular setup facilitated swift construction timelines, with some structures assembled in as little as ten days.

Sustainability considerations are integral to the project. Every component was selected with its lifecycle beyond the residency in mind. Fabrics and structural materials are designed for reuse in future events, artificial turf will be repurposed in educational and recreational settings, and the extensive tree planting is intended for transplantation back to nurseries after dismantling. This thoughtful planning underscores a commitment to minimizing environmental impact while delivering a memorable event experience.

The Macondo Park installation will be active from September 18 to October 11, 2026, coinciding with Shakira’s Madrid residency. The project exemplifies a shift in how major music events can be staged, moving away from conventional arena models to immersive, sustainable environments that celebrate culture and community alongside entertainment.

By transforming a music venue into a temporary city, BIG challenges traditional concert infrastructure norms and establishes a precedent for future large-scale events. The integration of art, nature, and social spaces within a modular, reusable framework reflects evolving expectations for event design that prioritizes audience engagement, cultural richness, and environmental responsibility.

While detailed logistical and operational aspects remain limited, the architectural and conceptual innovation evident in Macondo Park signals a promising direction for experiential event architecture. As Shakira’s residency unfolds within this unique setting, it will serve as a case study for how temporary cultural landscapes can redefine the live music experience.