Madrid prepares for a new Azca: an urban oasis with a thousand trees and increased security

Radical transformation in the heart of Madrid

The City Council of Madrid has unveiled an ambitious project that promises to revolutionise the iconic Tetuán district. Known as Nuevo AZCA, this plan aims to transform one of the busiest areas of the city, where around 100,000 people converge daily. The mayor, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, who has a personal connection to the area, has described this initiative as a “historic milestone”.

At the heart of the project is the creation of an extensive urban park that will feature a thousand trees, designed not only to beautify the landscape but also to improve air quality and provide a recreational space for citizens. This new green lung will be complemented by water channels that will integrate into the environment, becoming key elements of the landscape design.

The intervention will cover a total area of 132,895 square metres, distributed between public and private spaces. Sustainability is one of the central pillars of the project, along with accessibility and security. The installation of two new elevators is planned to facilitate vertical movement in this densely populated area.

Aside from the park, a comprehensive renovation of the sidewalks on adjacent streets such as General Perón and Paseo de la Castellana will take place. Additionally, 33 existing interior passages will be rehabilitated, creating a continuous system that will connect different areas through five new pedestrian bridges.

Security has also been prioritised in this project; the number of surveillance cameras in the area will increase from 55 to 91 devices. Furthermore, public lighting will be completely renewed to eliminate dark spots and thus improve the perception of safety among pedestrians.

According to Almeida, the works are scheduled to be awarded during the first quarter of 2026, with a start planned for the first half of the following year. This transformation aims not only to revitalise AZCA as an economic and social nerve centre but also to establish it as a model for sustainable urbanism.