On a quiet slope between San Bernardo and Conde Duque, the building at Noviciado 7 has stood for more than two centuries, silently watching Madrid change around it. Built in the 18th century, its nearly meter-thick stone walls have contained many lives: Jesuit novices in prayer, market vendors selling fish, whispered meetings during the Franco regime, and even plans for a sauna that never opened.
Today, it houses N7A, a private members’ club that blends cannabis culture, coworking, art, and technology. This is not just the story of a building; it is the story of how history, community, and a vision for the future have intertwined within its walls.
A Building With Many Lives
Long before the city buzzed with modern cafes and scooters, this structure stood as part of a quiet, village-like neighborhood. Built in the 18th century, its thick stone walls, nearly a meter deep, held the warmth of wood-burning hearths and the chatter of families. For a time, it even housed a small community of nuns. Local memory whispers that it once belonged to the Count of Puñonrrostro, and during the final years of the Franco regime, hidden passageways in its belly offered discreet refuge to those in danger.
While the grand Jesuit Novitiate of San Ignacio, just a few doors down, turned into the Central University of Madrid in the 19th century, Noviciado 7 remained residential, a quiet witness to centuries of change. The block saw horse-drawn carriages give way to taxis, and elegant handwritten letters replaced by smartphones.
The Founder
Today, Noviciado 7 is home to N7A, a private members’ club where people gather not just to share cannabis, but to trade ideas, build projects, and create together. Its walls carry centuries of reinvention, from sacred vows to social rebellion, and they have never stopped adapting.
Author: Ophir Nevo / High Times
