Concert Hall Infanta Doña Elena

Designed by Estudio Barozzi Veiga, an Auditorium and Conference centre has now opened its doors to the public on an 8000 metre plot in Aguilas, a fast growing village in southern Spain. Taking a wave as an inspiration, the building is a rational reflection, clean and simple but at the same time strong and aggressive, between the urban artificiality and the organic naturalness of the Mediterranean Sea, with concave white walls that resemble the 'deflated cheeks of someone taking a deep breath'.

On the ground floor there is a multi-uses room with a capacity for 150 people and a restaurant. Going up to the first floor, guests are able to access a multifunctional room designed especially for congresses, events and shows, with a seat capacity of 750 people. What the visitor first experiences as it enters the main hall, is a stunning 10-meter window that overlooks the endless sea and the village's medieval castle, San Juan de las Aguilas, built on the highest point of the village. The spaces have been designed to combine practicality with beauty to create an elegant and functional environment for congresses and events.


From our Architectural Editor

My first thoughts when I got to know about this big structure being built just by the seaside were not entirely positive, as I don't agree with the construction of massive urban developments on the coast (creating awful examples such as Benidorm). But looking at the result, I can say tat they actually did a good job "camouflaging" the building with the landscape and it even gives a touch of unusual elegance to a traditionally fisher's village. I just hope its activity is not affected too much by the economical crisis Spain is going through at this moment.