Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza worked has completed a red brick theatre with studio Aresta Arquitectura. This public auditorium in Llinars del Vallès, 40 kilometers northeast of Barcelona, was commissioned as part of a public investment in cultural facilities for the region.

The red brick building, designed by Siza,  consists of two primary volumes: one for the auditorium, with a capacity of 300 seats, and another which houses the site’s offices and technical areas. The scheme takes on a different appearance depending on where it is viewed from. The auditorium was completed in november 2015 and will be inaugurated in early 2016.

Description of the project by Álvaro Siza Vieira and Aresta and G.O.P.

The place

Northeast of the urban fabric of the town of Llinars del Valles is the site on which the Auditorium Theatre of Llinars del Valles has been built. This is the first performance of a larger project, already written and spread on adjacent public land obtained from the transfer resulting from the execution of Can Marquès partial plan. The area of this plan, by their east-south-west sides, in a substantially triangular shape, is fitted as a wedge with the consolidated irregular perimeter of Llinars, linking the center of the village with its limit on the northeastern part. The transfer land, where Can Marquès agricultural house has been maintained, named the partial plan corresponding to urban park, equipment and public protection residential uses.

Within the park, an area of mature forest with ancient vegetation, crossed by a stream, remains intact. For reasons of landscape and environmental quality, the forest preservation with the stream has been a determining factor in the new buildings distribution. Besides, the botanical elements of great value that partially surround Can Marquès house, have led to the advisability of the building restoration and extending it in order to take in cultural uses of musical nature.

The values to preserve from Can Marquès House and park, as much as the design of the park itself have guided the general layout of the complex and determined its internal and external connections.

The building

According to what the functional program presented by the town council remarked, it was necessary to give a broad spectrum of scenic uses and musical activities, i.e. to design the scenic and musical equipment for the most versatility and artistic, cultural and social performance.

The building is articulated in plan and elevation from the "heart" of the activity, the stage box. From this point depend all equipment actions and looks: musicians and actors; spectators, scenery, dressing rooms, storage, administration... Thus, different users are arranged in the scene related spaces, and the volumes corresponding to these spaces are displayed as such, articulated by courts and in its outward expression.

The option of placing the theater auditorium with façade to the Ronda Sant Antoni respond to several general requests: keeping away from the forest, properly setting with the visual axes of the forest clearings, facing the main street, qualifying the access to the new park, etc.

CREDITS. DATA SHEET.-

Architects.- Álvaro Siza Vieira, Aresta, G.O.P.
Architect in Charge.- Álvaro Siza Vieira
Associate Study.- Aresta, a+u, SLP (Manel Somoza - Manel González, architects)
Collaborators.- Clemente Meneres, architect
Acoustic Project: Dr. Higini Arau. Engineering.- GOP, Gabinete de Obras e Projectos Lda. Engineering Management.- Jorge Nunes da Silva. Structures.- Jorge Nunes da Silva. Electricity.- Alexandre Martins. Hydraulic.- Raquel Fernandes. Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (CVAA).- Raul Bessa.
Construction Company.- Teatre Llinars UTE (Construccions Deumal SA – CERTIS Obres i Serveis).
Dates.- project year, 2015   

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Álvaro Joaquim Melo Siza Vieira was born in Matosinhos (near Porto), in 1933. From 1949-55 he studied at the School of Architecture, University of Porto. His first built project was finished in 1954. From 1955-58 he was collaborator of Arch. Fernando Távora. He taught at the School of Architecture (ESBAP) from 1966-69 and was appointed Professor of "Construction" in 1976. He was a Visiting Professor at the Ècole Polythéchnique of Lausanne, the University of Pennsylvania, Los Andes University of Bogotá and the Graduate School of Design of Harvard University; he taught at the School of Architecture of Porto (jubilate in 2003).

He is the author of many projects such as: the Boa Nova Tea House and Restaurant; 1200 dwellings built in Malagueira, Évora; the Superior School of Education in Setúbal, the new School of Architecture in Porto; the Library of Aveiro University; the Museum of Modern Art in Porto; the Church and Parochial Centre in Marco de Canavezes; the Pavilion of Portugal for EXPO '98 and the Pavilion of Portugal in Hannover 2000 (with Souto de Moura); the dwelling and offices complex of “Terraços de Bragança” in Lisbon; and he has rebuilt the burnt area of Chiado in Lisbon since 1988, including the projects for some buildings like Castro e Melo, Grandella, Chiado Stores, and others.

He has been coordinated the plan of Schilderswijk's recuperation in The Hague, Holland, since 1985, which finished in 89; in 1995 he finished the project for blocs 6-7-8 in Ceramique Terrein, Maastricht.

In Spain he has completed the projects for the Meteorological Centre of Villa Olimpica in Barcelona; the Museum of Contemporary Art of Galicia and the Faculty of Information Sciences in Santiago de Compostela; the Rectorate of the Alicante University; Zaida building – offices, commercial and dwelling complex in Granada; Sportive Complex Cornellà de L’lobregat in Barcelona.

Cultural Centre and auditorium for the Ibere Camargo Foundation in Brazil; Municipal Centre of Rosario in Argentina; lodging-house in the Plan of Recuperation and Transformation of Cidade Velha in Cap Vert; Serpentine Pavillion (2005) with Eduardo Souto Moura; Museum of Modern Art of Naples in Italy; Anyang Pavilion in South Korea (with Carlos Castanheira); Mimesis Museum in South Korea (with Carlos Castanheira); are to be mentioned.

He has participated in several lectures and conferences in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany, France, Norway, Holland, Switzerland, Austria, England, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Japan, Canada, United States, Romania, Greece, South Korea and Sweden.

Having been invited to participate in international competitions, he won the first place in Schlesisches Tor, Kreuzberg, Berlin (now built), at the recuperation of Campo di Marte in Venice (1985) and at the renewal of Casino and Café Winkler, Salzburg (1986); Cultural Centre for the La Defensa, Madrid (with José Paulo Santos) (1988/89); J. Paul Getty Museum, Malibu, California (with Peter Testa) (1993); Pietà Rondanini Room, Sforzesco Castell, Milan (1999); Special Plan Recoletos-Prado, Madrid (with Juan Miguel Hernandez Leon e Carlos Riaño) (2002); Toledo Hospital (Sánchez-Horneros office) (2003); “Atrio de la Alhambra” in Spain (with Juan Domingo Santos)(2010); “Parco delle Cave”, Lecce in Italy (with Carlos Castanheira) (2010).

He has participated in the competitions for Expo 92 in Sevilla, Spain (with Eduardo Souto de Moura and Adalberto Dias) (1986); for "Un Progetto per Siena", Italy (with José Paulo Santos) (1988); the Cultural Centre La Defensa in Madrid, Spain (1988/89); the Bibliothèque of France in Paris (1989/90), the Helsinki Museum (with Souto de Moura) (1992-93); Flamenco City of Xerez de la Frontera, Spain (with Juan Miguel Hernandez Leon) (2003).

From 1982 to 2010 has won many different awards and have been assigned with Medals of Cultural Merit from many country around the world. Doctor "Honoris Causa" in various European and International universities.

He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Science; "Honorary Fellow" of the Royal Institute of British Architects; AIA/American Institute of Architects; Académie d'Architecture de France and European Academy of Sciences and Arts; Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts; IAA/International Academy of Architecture; American Academy of Arts and Letters.

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Published on: February 4, 2016
Cite: "Auditorium Theatre by Álvaro Siza Vieira and Aresta and G.O.P. " METALOCUS. Accessed
<http://www.metalocus.es/en/news/auditorium-theatre-alvaro-siza-vieira-and-aresta-and-gop> ISSN 1139-6415
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