The Matadero is a former municipal slaughterhouse located in the Arganzuela area of Madrid. The building was originally built at the start of the 1920s and at the time it was a fine example of industrial architecture. It was constructed by the esteemed Spanish architect Luis Bellido who based the design around the ideas of functionality, constructive rationality and conceptual simplicity. Once the slaughterhouse closed down in 1996 the building fell into disrepair until the start of the 21st century when Madrid City Council decide to harness the potential of the building and convert it into a contemporary arts space.