It belongs to the Fundación Montemadrid (the formal title of which is Fundación Obra Social y Monte de Piedad de Madrid), a social responsibility entity set up by the Spanish bank Caja Madrid.

Among its activities are avant-garde art exhibitions, and running courses and workshops on social matters, culture and the environment.

The cultural programme includes performance art, film, exhibitions and other forms of contemporary creativity.

The name La Casa Encendida ('The Burning House' in English) is taken from the eponymous book of the poet Luis Rosales Camacho, whose heirs gave their permission for its use.

The facade blends brick and granite using a mixture of Italianate and Neo-Mudéjar styles.