Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències - Rik Lagerwaard Architect BNA BV
Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències - Rik Lagerwaard Architect BNA BV
Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències - Rik Lagerwaard Architect BNA BV
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29. Conference centre<br />
(Palacio <strong>de</strong> Congresos)<br />
As communications technology makes it easier to work in isolation, paradoxically<br />
the <strong>de</strong>mand for new kinds of places for face-to-face discussion continues to grow.<br />
Conferences and conventions are now an international industry, and congress<br />
centres are important assets for cities keen to compete in a world market.<br />
Valencias Congress Centre is an example of this phenomenon. A leading European<br />
conference venue, it combines state-of-the-art facilities with an architectural<br />
celebration of this historic Mediterranean city.<br />
The Congress Centre provi<strong>de</strong>s three auditoria, seating 250, 460 and 1,460 people<br />
respectively, with the smal<strong>les</strong>t of these capable of being subdivi<strong>de</strong>d into two. In<br />
plan, the building forms a convex lens or eye, <strong>de</strong>fined by two arcing faca<strong>de</strong>s of<br />
unequal length. The auditoria and the nine seminar rooms fan out from the tighter<br />
curve of the western edge, while the public areas - including the broad, linear<br />
foyer - run along the eastern faca<strong>de</strong>. The Centre is oriented to respond to the<br />
climate and quality of light and sha<strong>de</strong>, water and green spaces found in the city.<br />
The foyer looks out onto shady trees and gently curving asymmetrical pools.<br />
Fresh air is cooled as it passes over these pools and is drawn into the foyer,<br />
minimising the need for mechanical air conditioning. Similarly, reflected sunlight is<br />
balanced by shading from brise-soleil so that natural illumination in the foyer is<br />
even and finely veiled. Except in the auditoria, daylight is drawn <strong>de</strong>ep into the<br />
plan, in some places entering gently, in others forming fine piercing rays.<br />
Following princip<strong>les</strong> rooted in the vernacular local architecture, the roof<br />
consists of two layers: an outer metal shield floats above a heavy concrete shell,<br />
encouraging a cooling flow of air in between, thus optimising the buildings passive<br />
thermal performance. The roof sweeps through 180 metres in a single line,<br />
surging forward at its peak to create a canopy above the entrance, which provi<strong>de</strong>s<br />
shelter from the sun. Completed to a tight budget, the Centre combines local<br />
skills, materials and construction techniques with the minimum of imported<br />
systems. In this sense, as well as in its environmental stance, it is truly a<br />
Valencian building rooted in tradition but forward looking.<br />
Client:CityofValencia<br />
Consultants: Arup, Davis Langdon & Everest, Clau<strong>de</strong> and Danielle Engle<br />
<strong>Architect</strong>: Sir Norman Foster<br />
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