Edificio Pereda

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Edificio Pereda: David Chipperfield's architecture at Faro Santander

Edificio Pereda was the historic headquarters of Banco Santander and one of the most iconic buildings on the Paseo de Pereda, overlooking Santander Bay. Following an extensive transformation led by David Chipperfield Architects, it has become Faro Santander, a new cultural centre dedicated to art, culture and technology. The building is home to the Banco Santander Collection, temporary exhibitions, spaces for creativity and experimentation, an auditorium, educational programmes, a café and a restaurant with a panoramic terrace. Listed as a Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC), Spain's official designation for protected cultural heritage, it combines the preservation of its architectural heritage with contemporary design and sustainable solutions, making it a landmark of cultural architecture and one of Spain's most significant adaptive reuse projects.

Panoramic view of the Pereda Building renovated by David Chipperfield opposite the Pereda Gardens in Santander.

01. The place

The Edificio Pereda occupies a privileged location on Paseo de Pereda, overlooking Santander Bay. Since the late eighteenth century, it has formed part of the city’s urban landscape and for decades served as the historic headquarters of Banco Santander. Its location, between the historic centre and the sea, made it an iconic building that remained in private use. With the creation of Faro Santander, it regains its civic purpose and is transformed into a new space accessible to everyone, where architecture, art and culture engage with the surrounding environment and the everyday life of the city.

The image shows the views of the city of Santander from a circular window.

02. The opening

The opening of Faro Santander marks a new chapter in the history of Edificio Pereda. The former bank headquarters has been transformed into a cultural centre open to the public, housing the Banco Santander Collection, temporary exhibitions, creative spaces, technological installations and new areas for gathering and exchange. Designed by David Chipperfield Architects, the project is based on a simple yet transformative idea: turning a historically private building into an accessible place dedicated to sharing knowledge, encouraging public participation and enriching the cultural experience.

03. Heritage

The restoration of Edificio Pereda, listed as a Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC), is rooted in respect for its history and architectural significance. Rather than erasing the different phases that have shaped the building since 1795, the project embraces them to create a new identity. The intervention preserves its most distinctive architectural features while introducing contemporary solutions capable of meeting the demands of a twenty-first-century museum. The result is a balance between memory, conservation and transformation, turning heritage into a living experience.

The image shows some of the tools used to carry out the renovation.

04. Progress

The transformation of Edificio Pereda demonstrates how architecture can adapt to the needs of an ever-evolving society. What was once a building dedicated to financial activity has become a centre designed to share knowledge, art and innovation. More than 10,000 square metres, spread across ten levels, accommodate exhibition galleries, educational spaces, an auditorium, technology-focused areas and welcoming places for visitors to gather. Faro Santander represents a new way of understanding heritage: preserving the past while building for the future.

Wide view of the exhibition room on the second floor of the Pereda Building in Faro Santander.

05. The world’s first museum to achieve BREEAM Outstanding certification

Faro Santander has become an international benchmark for sustainable architecture by achieving BREEAM Outstanding certification, with the highest score ever awarded to a museum or cultural centre. The refurbishment of Edificio Pereda has enabled a reduction of nearly 47% in energy consumption and CO₂ emissions and more than 69% in mains water consumption, while over 95% of construction waste has been recovered. The building also features intelligent consumption management through a centralised control system, helping to further improve its energy efficiency.

Excavation works for the underground basin and foundations in the transformation works of the Pereda Building.

06. The building's history

The origins of Edificio Pereda date back to 1795. Over more than two centuries, the building expanded through successive interventions that reflect both the evolution of Santander and the history of Banco Santander itself. Its institutional appearance contrasted with an interior designed for private use. The restoration respects this historical evolution while establishing the foundation for a new chapter, in which the building becomes an open cultural space for the city.

Interior of the large glazed arch of the Pereda Building with views of the Paseo de Pereda and Santander Bay.

07. The arch

The grand central arch is one of the most recognisable features of Edificio Pereda and the backbone of its transformation. The intervention reinterprets it as a space for connection: the partial enclosure of its upper section makes the building’s internal circulation visible and enhances its permeability. With the main entrances located beneath the arch, this monumental space becomes a gateway between the city and the sea, symbolising the transformation of a former bank headquarters into a public space open to everyone.

Restored allegorical sculptures by José Planes on the terrace of Faro Santander with panoramic views of the bay.

08. The statues

The façade of Edificio Pereda features a remarkable sculptural ensemble that forms part of its architectural identity. Four sculptures by José Planes Peñalver crown the building, representing Agriculture, Banking, Commerce and Navigation, accompanied by figures depicting the Four Seasons on the side blocks. The decorative scheme also includes Santander’s coat of arms and a large frieze representing the relationship between banking, navigation, commerce, agriculture, livestock farming and Cantabrian heritage. The eight sculptures were removed in 2020 and restored as part of the building’s conservation process.

0.9 The gardens

The gardens of Faro Santander extend the building’s environmental commitment, bringing nature into a distinctly urban setting. The project incorporates new green spaces and planting to encourage biodiversity, improve environmental quality and enhance visitors’ wellbeing. Planned initiatives include spaces designed to support insect life and a vertical garden, where aromatic plants and other species will be grown for potential use in Faro Santander’s restaurant. In this way, architecture, nature and sustainability also come together as part of the building’s everyday experience.

10. Commitment

Faro Santander was created with the commitment to bring art, culture and innovation closer to everyone. The transformation of Edificio Pereda reflects a shared vision between Fundación Banco Santander and David Chipperfield Architects: creating an inclusive, accessible space that is deeply connected to the city. Beyond preserving a historic building, the project encourages new forms of cultural participation, fosters creativity and places sustainability at the heart of its identity. The result is a cultural centre designed to become a landmark for both Santander and the international cultural landscape.