Kursaal - cultural center and concert hall

"From the very beginning, my intention was to create a formal unity and integrity for both cubes. Thus, glass in its various levels was planned throughout the entire time. Equally clear was the necessity of the load-bearing structure with corresponding dimensions for the layer of glass on the inner side and another for the outer side for the 2 'Screens'."
"Over time, however, we realized that the glass surfaces would not function as a translucent masonry, which resulted in an absolutely ordinary mass with a suspended façade. Then, an image of scales emerged that would imprint vibrations on the glass façade and of course increase the dynamics of the cubes. And throughout the design process, I was looking for materials that would withstand the climatic conditions close to the ocean."

Originally, The Gran Kursaal stood at the site - a casino that was closed after three years of operation due to the declaration of illegal gambling. After decades of serving various functions, the owner agreed to its demolition, and discussions about what to replace the building with began in 1972.
In 1989, six prominent figures from the international architectural scene were invited to a competition (Mario Botta, Norman Foster, Arata Isozaki, Rafael Moneo, Juan Navarro Baldweg, and Luis Peña Ganchegui). In 1990, the jury selected Moneo's design because "the design considers the geographical appeal of the Kursaal site at the mouth of the Urumea River, its openness to the public, as well as the platforms overlooking the sea, for its courage and originality." As is often the case, a wave of resistance arose. Not so much due to the aesthetic aspect of the two shining prisms, but due to concerns about whether the city would need a giant auditorium for 1,800 spectators and a congress hall (Sala de Cámara) for 500 listeners. The two cubes clad in cedar wood, wrapped in glass waves, are illuminated in white-yellow at night and resemble a Japanese paper lantern. All concerns of the protesters were eventually dispelled. During its short existence, the Kursaal became one of the five most popular conference buildings in the world and, as a cherry on top, received the Mies van der Rohe Award in 2001.

A couple of numbers to conclude: one such glass wave on the façade measures 2500x600 mm, the auditorium measures 60x48x27m and is tilted more towards the sea and rises towards Mount Urgull, while the concert hall is 42x36x24m and is oriented towards the edge of the city and Mount Uli`a.