Although there is not a definitive date, the inauguration of the Badajoz Congress Center is just around the corner. Both because of the economic repercussion this building will have on the city, as for its design and central setting, we are at a milestone in the recent history of Badajoz. It must not be forgotten that the works began in December 2001 and the building has been growing in view of all to behold, and the expectations have been increasing in the last few months. Its external appearance is now familiar, but its inside is practically unknown. Once passed its entrance, more than one visitor would qualify it as spectacular, when contemplated as a whole.
Its access way, which slopes downwards, to preserve the continuity of the polyester cylinders which envelope the whole building which could be seen over the last few weeks from the Ronda del Pilar. Once inside, upon the orange entrance floor, a plastic combination of materials alternates with faced-concrete walls which shape the internal personality of the secondary areas. The design was created by the married Madrilenian architects Lucía Cano Pinto and José Selgas Rubio.
Currently they are putting the finishing touches in each corner of this building, conceived in concentric circles. The 1,040 auditorium seats were being installed yesterday but the mechanism to be employed to cover the roof’s operculum, which when open will allow a great shaft of natural light to illuminate the stalls, is still pending the architect’s decision.
The lights which artificially illuminate the auditorium practically all work and are situated behind semi-transparent polycarbonate sheets which form the curved walls in the central area. In the lobby, it is only necessary to upholster the inglenook seats for occasional seating of visitants and clean the floors and work remains.
From the last floor of the auditorium you may see the stage as well as the false ceiling, made up of hundreds of layers of wood and transparent polycarbonate which are suspended by steel cables, an original architectural idea, which may be seen up close by those attending any event, because it is not discarded that this extra space will allow shows to be seen standing up, which will increase its capacity by some one hundred places if and when the occasion need be.
SOME DATA:
Promoter: Ministry of Culture from the Regional Government of Extremadura.
The Works: Began in December 2001 with a joint venture between Joca-Placonsa.
Location: Baluarte de San Roque, where the first wooden bullring was erected in 1817, which ended up in ashes, forcing the construction of a new arena in 1859.
Budget: €9.9 million after a 20% increase.
Surface area: 11,000m2 over 5 floors.
Main Auditorium: capacity 1,040 seats
Curiosities: The stage was the third largest in Spain in 2004 – 800m2 (4 times bigger than the López de Ayala stage), only beaten by the Liceo de Barcelona and the Royal Theater in Madrid. The seats were designed by the Swede Monica Foster, each costing €420. The suspended ceiling, in the main auditorium, is an original idea by Jose Selgas, and simulates a pentagram whose curves were previously studied by the physicist Igini Arau, one of the world’s greatest authorities on acoustics.
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