Cartier Restores Brutalist Madrid Embassy for High Jewelry Launch
Cartier has restored the former British embassy in Madrid, a brutalist building abandoned since 2009, to host the launch of its Beautés du Monde high jewelry collection. Designed in 1966 by British architect W.S. Bryant and Madrid-born Luis Blanco-Soler, the embassy in the Chamberí district resembles a bullring with alternating windows and burladeros. Cartier fully renovated the structure, unveiling it on June 13 alongside 100 jewelry pieces inspired by flora, fauna, snakes, planets, coral, and iguana skin. The maison commissioned Spanish designer Jaime Hayon to create dreamlike showrooms and private viewing salons, using bold color zones and arches to segment the labyrinthine space and reference Spanish architecture. A star-studded gala featured Lily Collins, Rami Malek, Yara Shahidi, the Black Eyed Peas, and Blackpink's Jisoo, with a dinner by chef Jesús Sánchez. The building's future use remains undecided.
Key facts
- Cartier restored the former British embassy in Madrid, abandoned since 2009.
- The brutalist building was designed in 1966 by W.S. Bryant and Luis Blanco-Soler.
- The embassy is located in the Chamberí district and resembles a bullring.
- Cartier unveiled 100 pieces from its Beautés du Monde collection on June 13.
- The collection draws inspiration from flora, fauna, snakes, planets, coral, and iguana skin.
- Spanish designer Jaime Hayon designed the showrooms and private salons.
- Hayon used color zones and arches to segment the space and reference Spanish architecture.
- The gala included celebrities Lily Collins, Rami Malek, Yara Shahidi, the Black Eyed Peas, and Jisoo.
- Chef Jesús Sánchez catered the dinner.
- The building's future use is not yet determined.
Entities
Artists
- Jaime Hayon
Institutions
- Cartier
- British Embassy Madrid
Locations
- Madrid
- Spain
- Chamberí