they call it the ‘Palace’ and it makes sense if we take into account that it is one of the most stately buildings at the Cuatro Vientos airfield, in Madrid, and perhaps in the entire Air Force. The Officers’ Pavilion (that is its official name) is an architectural jewel built around 1916 to host the pilots and students of the first Military Aviation school in Spain. More than a century later, its rooms and offices are still full of artistic and historical treasures, but they have not been immune to the passage of time, something that Defensa wants to solve now.
For this he has used his checkbook.
What has happened? That the Ministry of Defense wants to rehabilitate the Historical Officers’ Pavilion (the ‘Palace’), an architectural and historical jewel located at the Cuatro Vientos air base. In fact, it is usually presented, along with the Tower, as its most emblematic property. At the beginning of 2026, Margarita Robles’ department published a tender notice in the BOE to carry out “renovation and restoration” works in the old pavilion. The total amount of the work, including VAT, amounted to about 3.49 million of euros.
After passing several procedures, the final award announcement was posted on the State Contracting Platform a few days ago and details that the agreement has been closed for 3.46 million (including VAT). The execution period is 14 months, so in theory the work will not be ready until well into 2027.
What will they consist of? The idea is to get the ‘Palace’ ready, which, as you remember the specialized portal Infodefenseundergoes a complicated task: modernizing the building to make it more comfortable and functional while preserving its historical and artistic identity. In practice this will translate into works to rehabilitate the façade, a redistribution and the renovation of facilities.
The technicians hired by Defense will eliminate the lichens and dirt accumulated on the exterior, recover the original tones of the façade, restore the cornices, stairs and balustrades, solve water leaks and replace pieces damaged by time. To prevent the bars and other metal elements from being ruined, the specialists will clean them up.
The idea is not only to rehabilitate the pavilion. Defense wants it to be more functional. Hence, the project includes some distribution changes and the installation of services such as an elevator and a dumbwaiter. The reorganization of spaces will also increase the building’s capacity to accommodate tenants and reinforce their comfort, focusing for example on thermal insulation, waterproofing and electrical installations, pipes and wiring.
Is the pavilion so important? Yes. And for several reasons. One of them is its historical dimension. The Officers’ Pavilion was built between 1914 and 1918at a key historical moment in which, remember from Defensethe old Cuatro Vientos airfield became “the cradle of Hispanic aviation.”
As it grew, it became necessary to build a specific building to house the pilots and flight school students. The building began to be built around 1915 and from very early on it played a fundamental role. In fact its nickname, ‘Palace’, is probably explained because it welcomed the infant Don Alfonso of Orleansaviator from the school’s first class of pilots.
What role did he play? In an article published for the centenary of the pavilion, the Spanish Defense Magazine He recalled in 2016 that the ‘Palace’ was in a way the “center of teaching, debate, analysis and planning of the ‘Great Flights'”as the first great feats of Spanish aviation are known, such as the ‘Plus Ultra’from 1926, during which the South Atlantic was crossed.
Prototypes such as the one with the autogyro and aeronautical workshops and an aerodynamics laboratory were installed.
Is it the only reason to reform it? The truth is that no. Another reason why Defense probably wants to take care of the ‘Palace’ is its heritage and architectural value. Beyond its age (it was built between 1915 and 1918), the pavilion was designed from the first moment as a noble building, equipped with coffered ceilings, tiles and stained glass with considerable artistic value. A residence worthy of an infant of the Orleáns-Borbón house.
Infodefense stands out specifically the wooden frieze and ceiling of the Noble Hall, the plasterwork of the Officers’ Hall and Weapons Room or the marquetry of the dining room, in which the architects wanted to make a nod to the history of Spain: the pieces are inspired by the engraving ‘Modo de Volar’ by Goya. Also notable is the leaded stained glass window that preserves the original shield and was restored in the 90s.
“To the right of the main entrance, is the ‘chiefs’ dining room’, today called ‘Los Pajaritos’. The room is surrounded by a wooden frieze, in the upper part of which appear, reflecting Goya’s engraving ‘Modo de Volar’, different birds in the attitude of flight”, details the Air Force.
Images | Ministry of Defense of Spain and Air Force (Facebook)
In Xataka | Spain in the 1950s, seen from the air: the pioneering photographs of the US army
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings