BIG and Komodo transform into an immersive celebration of Latin American culture for Shakira’s Madrid residency tour. This cultural immersive landscape is inspired by the literary universe of Gabriel García Márquez. The project explores how space can shape cultural identity, collective experience and public interaction. Macondo Park is a great example of how temporary architectural interventions can create meaningful experiences while responding to the practical and environmental challenges of a large – scale event.
Master Planning the Venue
BIG and Komono’s temporary urban settlement was built around the literary world of Gabriel García Márquez. The layout consisted of a central plaza, eight distinct pavilions and colour-coded pathways. The space was built to host Colombian pop icon Shakira’s month-long, 12-show residency. Macondo tree, flanked by thematic pavilions and the central Shakira stadium, stands at the centre of the master plan. Visitors enter the venue through a series of “Es Latina” entrance arches. The entrance path are colour-coded to guide the crowd to different pavilions or thematic areas. The designers introduced more than 500 tropical and Mediterranean trees and landscaped the island to provide shaded space throughout the day. Once the residency concluded, these trees and artificial grasses would be donated to local nurseries, playgrounds, and schools.
BIG architects wrapped the modular scaffoldings and walk ways in brightly coloured fabrics, creating an explosion of colours. Through a network of thematic pavilions, colour-coded pathways, shaded gathering spaces, and a central performance stadium, the master plan integrates entertainment with opportunities for cultural exploration. Twelve temporary pavilions were spread across the park for fans, VIP and family entertainment. Out of the twelve pavilions, eight were dedicated to celebrating Latin American culture. Through dance, art, gastronomy, literature, cinema, and fashion, visitors could experience Latin American culture. The colour-coded entryways guided visitors to each pavilion. Interactive cultural programmes were scheduled throughout the day.
Beyond the Concert Venue
BIG architects, in collaboration with Komodo, spent six months choreographing the visitor journey, crowd flow, and narrative layout of 185,000 square metres. The team disguised and transformed scaffolding, trusses, and shipping containers with vibrant, shaded textiles. This allowed rapid construction within a 10-day window and guaranteed complete site restoration without any permanent structural alteration. These components can be bolted, dismantled, and redeployed for future events. Thus avoiding structural wastage. Apart from the evening music performance, the site hosted cultural programmes, dining retail, and children’s activities. Macondo Park explores modularity, material reuse and environmental responsibility.
BIG and Komono brought to life Gabriel García Márquez’s literary universe, which served as a foundation and spatial narrative for the Macondo Park. The venue’s name itself is based directly on Macondo, the fictional Colombian town from Márquez’s novel One Hundred Years of Solitude. In the book, Macondo is described as an evolving place where community life unfolds through the interplay of nature, culture, and collective experience. The architects have mirrored this in the master plan, where the park comes alive throughout the day with shaded islands, cultural activities and social gatherings taking place before the evening concerts. Márquez’s mythical town provided the framework to celebrate Latin culture as a fusion of Europe, the Americas, and Africa, weaving together literature, music, food, art, cinema, fashion and dance under a unified theme.
BIG and Komodo showed the potential of architecture to transform a temporary event space into a vibrant urban experience. Macondo Park celebrates cultural identity, encourages social interaction, and leaves a lasting impact beyond its physical lifespan. Through carefully planned circulation, thematic pavilions, landscaped gathering spaces, and adaptable construction systems, it challenges the idea of a conventional concrete venue. Thereby demonstrating how temporary architecture can extend beyond functionality to create a meaningful cultural environment. Macondo Park will remain open with daily cultural programming and daily activities alongside the remaining concert dates until October 11.
References:
Walsh, N.P. (2026). BIG completes Shakira residency venue in Madrid with temporary colorful fabrics. [online] Archinect. Available at: https://archinect.com/news/article/150568187/big-completes-shakira-residency-venue-in-madrid-with-temporary-colorful-fabrics [Accessed 08 Oct. 2026].
Bjarke Ingels Group (2026). Macondo Park opens for Shakira’s madrid residency. [online] Big.dk. Available at: https://big.dk/news/macondo-park-opens-for-shakiras-madrid-residency [Accessed 08 Oct. 2026].
Vinci, R. (2026). BIG transforms Madrid into a temporary Macondo for Shakira. [online] Archiproducts. Available at: https://www.archiproducts.com/en/news/macondo-park-big-creates-a-temporary-city-for-shakira-in-madrid_111983 [Accessed 08 Oct. 2026].
Laguardia, I. (2026). BIG builds a temporary city for shakira in madrid with reusable structures. [online] designboom | architecture & design magazine. Available at: https://www.designboom.com/architecture/big-shakira-temporary-city-madrid-reusable-structures/ [Accessed 08 Oct. 2026].
Guim, F. (2026). Madrid howls with Shakira as she kicks off 12-Date residency: ‘Tonight we are one’. [online] Billboard. Available at: https://www.billboard.com/music/latin/shakira-madrid-concert-recap-residency-spain-1236343874/ [Accessed 08 Oct. 2026].
Images:
Anon, (n.d.). [Photograph-1] Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/1185625/bigs-macondo-park-opens-as-a-temporary-cultural-landscape-for-shakiras-madrid-residency.
Anon, (n.d.). [Photograph-2] Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/1185625/bigs-macondo-park-opens-as-a-temporary-cultural-landscape-for-shakiras-madrid-residency.
Anon, (n.d.). [Photograph-3] Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/1185625/bigs-macondo-park-opens-as-a-temporary-cultural-landscape-for-shakiras-madrid-residency.
Anon, (n.d.). [Photograph-4] Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/1185625/bigs-macondo-park-opens-as-a-temporary-cultural-landscape-for-shakiras-madrid-residency.
Anon, (n.d.). [Photograph-5] Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/1185625/bigs-macondo-park-opens-as-a-temporary-cultural-landscape-for-shakiras-madrid-residency.
Anon, (n.d.). [Photograph-6] Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/1185625/bigs-macondo-park-opens-as-a-temporary-cultural-landscape-for-shakiras-madrid-residency.
Anon, (n.d.). [Photograph-7] Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/1185625/bigs-macondo-park-opens-as-a-temporary-cultural-landscape-for-shakiras-madrid-residency.
Anon, (n.d.). [Photograph-8] Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/1185625/bigs-macondo-park-opens-as-a-temporary-cultural-landscape-for-shakiras-madrid-residency.
