As extreme heatwaves sweep through the Spanish capital city of Madrid, cultural venues have been converted into makeshift climate shelters to serve as lifesaving havens, providing free cooling spaces for both locals and tourists. These "urban oases" not only offer emergency solutions to extreme weather events but also create connections between the population and the city. Locals and tourists are struggling with extreme heat in Madrid as Spain suffers through a prolonged heatwave. The heatwave striking the country this August was the most intense on record, both in terms of temperatures and impacts, Spain's State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) said. According to provisional data, average temperatures during the Aug 3-18 period were 4.6 degrees Celsius above the seasonal norm, surpassing the previous record of 4.5 degrees Celsius set in July 2022. The Circulo de Bellas Artes, or the Circle of Fine Arts, a long-running cultural institution based in the heart of the Spanish capital, opened a large green space to help visitors combat high temperatures. Hernandez's description of the climate shelter's critical role underscores a vital need that the local government has recognized. Madrid's government has been actively seeking solutions to this pressing issue. This strategy has been met with immense appreciation from the public, with visitors to the shelter praising its value. This innovative project exists within a complex web of contradictions, as the very concept of a climate shelter is a vital necessity and a profound admission of failure, according to the organizer. Shotlist: Madrid, Spain - Recent: 1. Various of visitors; 2. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Diego, local resident (full name not given): "As the years go by, I have the feeling that Madrid is getting hotter and hotter, especially in the central part. The central part of Madrid is very hot because there is very little vegetation, there are no trees."; 3. Various of paper fans; 4. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Angela, local resident (full name not given) (starting with shot 3): "When you leave home where you have the air conditioning on, and step out, you feel like you're burning alive."; 5. Misting fan, people; 6. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Marta, local resident (full name not given) (starting with shot 5): "This is definitely climate change. And I don't think we've experienced anything like this in many years. The stifling heat in Madrid is unlike anywhere else."; 7. Various of exterior, interior of Circulo de Bellas Artes; 8. SOUNDBTIE (Spanish) Santi Hernandez, head, strategic development, Circulo de Bellas Artes (starting with shot 7/partially overlaid with shot 9): "It's extremely serious. It's unavoidable. The way to measure the impact is through a proposal like the one you see here. We built a climate shelter, a space where people can feel relatively comfortable in the face of the extreme heat of a relentless summer. Inside, the temperature stays between 27 and 28 degree Celsius. Circulo de Bellas Artes is right in the heart of Madrid, and the idea was to provide a free physical space that could address a very serious need, like the one you are pointing out regarding the number of people who have even died from the heat."; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 9. Various of visitors; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 10. Various of ceiling, visitors; 11. Madrid City Council exterior; 12. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Marta Rivera de la Cruz, deputy major, Madrid City Council (starting with shot 11): "For some time now, we have been thinking that we needed to offer both Madrid residents and visitors some places to spend the hottest hours of the day in a more pleasant way, not just stay at home or taking refuge in a hotel."; 13. Various of building, screen showing leaves; 14. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Marta Rivera de la Cruz, deputy major, Madrid City Council (ending with shot 15): "The space has air conditioning, very comfortable armchairs, and books for everyone to read free of charge. The idea is to provide a place where you can rest. This one in particular is often visited by tourists who can come in here to sit for a while, check their maps, or phones or read a book before continuing on their way."; 15. Various of visitors, books, plants, decorations in Circulo de Bellas Artes; 16. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Paola, visitor (full name not given) (starting with shot 15): "When you are making plans at this time of the year, with air-conditioning and shade, there aren't many options. So I think it's fantastic to have such a beautiful space where you can be complete at ease. Yes, it's wonderful."; 17. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Isabela, visitor (full name not given) "We actually found out about it on TikTok. We saw it and the architecture looked super beautiful. It offered something different in the middle of Madrid, where the summer heat is so intense."; 18. SOUNDBTIE (Spanish) Santi Hernandez, head, strategic development, Circulo de Bellas Artes (ending with shots 19-20): "There are many paradoxes surrounding a project as fascinating as this. A climate shelter, in reality, should not even have to exist. It responds to an urgent need, but it doesn't fully solve the problem. Given the present context, however, more of them should exist. That's the paradox. In the long run, I'm optimistic. I believe we can have the ethical, political and social capacity to solve this urgent issue: the climate crisis."; 19. Various of children playing in fountain; 20. Man having rest on lawn. [Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]