Kursaal Palace
Encyclopedia
The Kursaal Convention Center and Auditorium is a complex comprising several spaces: a great auditorium
, many-use halls and exhibition halls. It was designed by Spanish
architect Rafael Moneo
, and is located in Donostia-San Sebastián
(Basque Country
, Spain
). It opened in 1999.
It consists of several spaces, including the 1,800-seat concert hall, the Palacio de Congresos-Auditorio Kursaal, and is the home of the biggest film festival in Spain, the San Sebastian International Film Festival
, in existence since 1953.
river) was pulled down in 1973, an empty plot (later called K Plot) was freed. The absence of any architectonic structure in such a privileged site for so many years was remarkable.
A new project proposal was submitted in 1972. After a few changes to the design, building work was started in 1975, but after the perimeter wall was complete and the foundations in place, works was halted. The plot of land then passed from private hands (as the Great Kursaal had been private) to public hands, so a public consortium was created for the purposes of constructing a new building.
, Norman Foster
, Arata Isozaki
, Rafael Moneo
, Juan Navarro Beldeweg and Luis Peña Ganchegi. Of the six projects, the one of Moneo was chosen (the motto of which was "Two beached rocks").
(who paid for a 16% of the total cost) to increase the funds. After these problems were solved, the works were concluded in 1999.
The initial impact of the buildings in the Donostia landscape (characterized by its French style architecture) was deemed negative by Donostians: the curved sandstone buildings clashed with a sharp-edged crystal structure. The significance of the building (opened August 23, 1999, with a concert of the Euskadi Simphonic Orchestra and Ainhoa Arteta
) was also eclipsed by the parallel construction of the Guggenheim museum
in Bilbao
, which was twice as expensive as the Kursaal. However, after an adaptation period, and thanks to the positive impact it had in the economy, tourism and cultural life of Donostia, most citizens today appreciate the Kursaal building, and support it.
savings bank.
The building has, moreover, a restaurant owned by Martín Berasategui
, various shops in its basement, and a car park.
Auditorium
An auditorium is a room built to enable an audience to hear and watch performances at venues such as theatres. For movie theaters, the number of auditoriums is expressed as the number of screens.- Etymology :...
, many-use halls and exhibition halls. It was designed by Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
architect Rafael Moneo
Rafael Moneo
José Rafael Moneo Vallés is a Spanish architect. He was born in Tudela, Spain, and won the Pritzker Prize for architecture in 1996. He studied at the ETSAM, Technical University of Madrid from which he received his architectural degree in 1961. From 1958 to 1961 he worked in the office in Madrid...
, and is located in Donostia-San Sebastián
San Sebastián
Donostia-San Sebastián is a city and municipality located in the north of Spain, in the coast of the Bay of Biscay and 20 km away from the French border. The city is the capital of Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. The municipality’s population is 186,122 , and its...
(Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
). It opened in 1999.
It consists of several spaces, including the 1,800-seat concert hall, the Palacio de Congresos-Auditorio Kursaal, and is the home of the biggest film festival in Spain, the San Sebastian International Film Festival
San Sebastián International Film Festival
The San Sebastián International Film Festival is an annual FIAPF A category film festival held in the Spanish city of San Sebastián .-History:The festival was founded in 1953...
, in existence since 1953.
Placement: K Plot
When the Great Kursaal (an elegant palace built in 1921, incorporating a casino, a restaurant, a cinema theater, complementary rooms and a 859-seat theater, placed in front of the Gros beach, and next to the mouth of the UrumeaUrumea
The Urumea a" 'thin') is a river in the Basque Country at the north of the Iberian Peninsula. It's one of a series of Basque rivers flowing into the Bay of Biscay and best known for being the river flowing to the sea on the city of San Sebastian...
river) was pulled down in 1973, an empty plot (later called K Plot) was freed. The absence of any architectonic structure in such a privileged site for so many years was remarkable.
Discarded projects
At the time the old palace was pulled down, a competition was held to find a replacement. However, the winning project was never constructed due to its complexity.A new project proposal was submitted in 1972. After a few changes to the design, building work was started in 1975, but after the perimeter wall was complete and the foundations in place, works was halted. The plot of land then passed from private hands (as the Great Kursaal had been private) to public hands, so a public consortium was created for the purposes of constructing a new building.
Final choice
Once the 1972 project discarded, and facing the possibility of building a great auditorium in the K Plot, six architects were consulted in 1989: Mario BottaMario Botta
Mario Botta is a Swiss architect. He studied at the Liceo Artistico in Milan and the IUAV in Venice. His ideas were influenced by Le Corbusier, Carlo Scarpa, Louis Kahn. He opened his own practice in 1970 in Lugano.-Career:...
, Norman Foster
Norman Foster, Baron Foster of Thames Bank
Norman Robert Foster, Baron Foster of Thames Bank, OM is a British architect whose company maintains an international design practice, Foster + Partners....
, Arata Isozaki
Arata Isozaki
Arata Isozaki is a Japanese architect from Ōita. He graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1954. Isozaki worked under Kenzo Tange before establishing his own firm in 1963. He was awarded the RIBA Gold Medal in 1986.In 2005, Arata Isozaki founded the Italian branch of his office: Arata Isozaki &...
, Rafael Moneo
Rafael Moneo
José Rafael Moneo Vallés is a Spanish architect. He was born in Tudela, Spain, and won the Pritzker Prize for architecture in 1996. He studied at the ETSAM, Technical University of Madrid from which he received his architectural degree in 1961. From 1958 to 1961 he worked in the office in Madrid...
, Juan Navarro Beldeweg and Luis Peña Ganchegi. Of the six projects, the one of Moneo was chosen (the motto of which was "Two beached rocks").
Beginning and ending of the works
After the project was written down between 1991 and 1994, the works were begun in 1996, and were not finished until 1999. During this period some funding problems arose, mainly because of the refusal of the Basque GovernmentBasque Government
The Basque Government is the governing body of the Basque Autonomous Community of Spain. The head of this government is the lehendakari or Basque president that is appointed by the Basque Parliament every four years...
(who paid for a 16% of the total cost) to increase the funds. After these problems were solved, the works were concluded in 1999.
The initial impact of the buildings in the Donostia landscape (characterized by its French style architecture) was deemed negative by Donostians: the curved sandstone buildings clashed with a sharp-edged crystal structure. The significance of the building (opened August 23, 1999, with a concert of the Euskadi Simphonic Orchestra and Ainhoa Arteta
Ainhoa Arteta
Ainhoa Arteta Ibarrolaburu, born 24 September 1964 in Tolosa , Spain, is a Spanish soprano.- Biography :After studying in Tolosa and Italy, she later studied under Ruth Falcon....
) was also eclipsed by the parallel construction of the Guggenheim museum
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is a museum of modern and contemporary art, designed by Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry, built by Ferrovial, and located in Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain. It is built alongside the Nervion River, which runs through the city of Bilbao to the Atlantic Coast. The...
in Bilbao
Bilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
, which was twice as expensive as the Kursaal. However, after an adaptation period, and thanks to the positive impact it had in the economy, tourism and cultural life of Donostia, most citizens today appreciate the Kursaal building, and support it.
The building
It is mainly constituted by two large prismatic volumes, that emerge from a platform. Each "cube" (as they are known), is formed by an inner prismatic structure, surrounded by double translucent glass panels, which are supported by a metallic structure. Between the cubes there is a big walkable surface, with sights to the Zurriola Beach and the mouth of the Urumea river. Various concerts of the Donostia Jazz Festival ("Jazzaldia"), and many other events, take place in that terrace.Kursaal Auditorium
Placed inside the biggest cube (and closest to the sea), can hold an audience of 1800, and is the most frequently used one for big events. The first seat rows can be removed to make room for the orchestra in an opera.Chamber Hall
Has room for 600, and is placed in the small cube. It is used for congresses or smaller concerts.Kubo Hall
It is an exhibition hall under the supervision of the KutxaKutxa
The Kutxa is a savings bank operating with a regional scope in the Gipuzkoa province of Spain. Its Spanish name is Caja de Ahorros y Monte de Piedad de Gipuzkoa y San Sebastián but it is most widely referred to as Kutxa.- History :...
savings bank.
The building has, moreover, a restaurant owned by Martín Berasategui
Martin Berasategui
Martín Berasategui is a Basque chef and owner of an eponymous restaurant in Lasarte-Oria , Spain. The restaurant has 3 Michelin stars, and was voted 29th best restaurant in the world by Restaurant in 2008....
, various shops in its basement, and a car park.