Shortly after arriving at my hotel, perfectly situated right next to the Prado, I met up with Architectural Record correspondent David Cohn and his wife Amelia to tour a social housing development and three garden-like structures on what’s called the “Eco-Boulevard.” After lunch we visited the Caixa Forum, a project by Herzog + de Meuron. The charming company of David and Amelia and almost perfect weather made what could have been an exhausting day (jet lag and no sleep) quite exhilarating. Let the pictures do the talking.