- Faro Santander opens as major new art museum
- Pereda Building converted from former headquarters
- David Chipperfield led nine-year overhaul
- Building achieved Outstanding BREEAM certification
- Project cost around €40m
Banco Santander has inaugurated Faro Santander, a major new art museum and cultural centre created by transforming its historic former corporate headquarters in the Spanish city of Santander. Officially opened on 8 September 2026 by His Majesty King Felipe VI and Banco Santander Chair Ana Botín, the project marks the first time the public has gained access to the 231-year-old Pereda Building. The historic Pereda Building is a 1795 Neoclassical landmark overlooking Santander Bay.
Renowned British architect David Chipperfield led the nine-year overhaul of the listed seafront landmark. The layout converts over 10,000 square metres of private office space across 10 levels with five floors purely dedicated to galleries. Chipperfield re-engineered the building’s monumental central arch by glazing its upper sections to turn it into a transparent public atrium and main circulation hub. A dramatic new exposed-concrete spiral staircase guides visitors up through the building. The building achieved an Outstanding BREEAM certification with a score of 92.96 utilising geothermal energy, green roofs and rainwater harvesting.
Faro Santander’s debut features three exhibitions including Masterpieces from the Banco Santander Collection displaying centuries of art history including works by Rubens, El Greco, Velázquez, Goya, Picasso and Miró. Modern Mexico in the Gelman Santander Collection features prominent works by Mexican artists including Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Leonora Carrington: The Symptomatic Surreal highlights Carrington’s Surrealist pieces including Villa Pilar which she painted while being treated at a sanatorium near Santander during WWII. The project cost around €40m and is financed by Fundación Banco Santander.
