Sala Equis | PLANTEA

Madrid is something like an endless creator of great stories. Sala Equis was born with the aim of joining the creation of many of them as a cultural promoter with a huge program which offers film cycles all year long, acoustic concerts and several scenic proposals. Sala Equis as a cultural and social reference point.

With its opening the dream’s team behind El Imparcial (next door restaurant) is completely fulfilled. The five promoters had in mind –from the very beginning and with the great reception of the public– to restore the historical building connected to the so-called Alba cinema to give it a new life and recover its cultural and leisure use –which also meant to avoid the threat of supermarket companies and textile business–. The purpose was clear: to create a space devoted to non-conventional leisure which perfectly embraces the new century needs and cultural trends with a wide range of content as themed cycles, meetings, talks or shows to be displayed at Sala Equis. In conclusion, a traditional, cultural space to be returned to the people.

From 1913 to 1933, this antique palace housed the newspaper El Imparcial, and today its walls and ceilings show the artistic and intellectual breath that era. In this newsroom of the beginning of century, ‘Los Lunes de El Imparcial’, the most important cultural supplement in Spanish at this moment, was published here. Members of the Generación del 98 (Unamuno, Azorin, Baroja, among others) were regular contributors at those pages. However, the newspaper suffered the vagaries of the time and barely survived the tumultuous events of Spain in the first third of the twentieth century. In 1933 the newspaper finally closed and soon after the Alba cinema was built where its original courtyard was located.

In the Eighties, the Alba cinema became a Sala X (actually the last porn cinema in Madrid). The building has miraculously survived from several demolition attempts, thanks to the effort of the family ownership, who have defended their cultural value and have always considered the potential of that space as a cultural center. With the opening of Sala Equis, the desire of both the promoters from El Imparcial and the family that owns it, to preserve a unique space in the center of Madrid becomes a reality.

SPACES AT SALA EQUIS

● TERRACE & LOBBY. A wide corridor with an alley structure gives access to Sala Equis. It is an indoor terrace that receives visitors. At the lobby inside (Taquilla), you can buy tickets for all the events, buy something to drink (wine, beer, soft-drink) with a delicious bowl of freshly made popcorn to be taken to the cinema room.

● SALA PLAZA. The spirit of a ‘square in party’ articulates the great space of Sala Equis. Starring a large skylight that allows natural light to pass through, this room has a large projection screen, a bar with a selection of gastronomic proposals to share and different seating areas distributed among wooden benches, sun loungers and swings. An impressive vegetation completes the space. The spirit of ‘square in party’ will invite the guests to chat and meet people. It will thus become a unique space in the city of Madrid with a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. Activities to be developed: films, concerts, videoclips, cinematographic and music shows on the big screen, theater pieces and scenic performances.

● CINEMA It comprises 55 seats and is intended exclusively for film themed cycles proposed by Sala Equis. In addition, the projection activity will be used for press previews and conferences and events linked to the cinematographic universe. The program will be carried out by Sunset Cinema, the movie experience factory pop-up.

The whole space recovery project has been carried out by the architecture and interior design studio PLANTEA and the company PAYSER BIG & SMALL.