La Lotja Congress Center by Mecanoo

Two weeks ago, the president of the self-governing region of Catalonia laid the cornerstone of the La Lotja congress center. The author of the new theater and congress center in Lleida, Spain, is the architectural studio Mecanoo, which won this commission two years ago in an international competition. The total area of the center is 15,750 m², including two large halls (1,000 and 400 seats) with a multifunctional space (700 m²). The project also includes office spaces, shops, and a square in front of the center with an area of 15,000 m². The formally striking mass is completely clad in limestone. The giant cantilevered edges of the building are intended to create a sun-protected urban space.
Lleida is the second-largest city in Catalonia. This region is renowned for its fruit orchards. Therefore, the architects from Mecanoo drew inspiration for the colorful design of the building from the "color palette of fruit." The exterior is clad in stone, while the interior spaces are painted white. The walls are white plastered, and the floors will be marble or wood. The congress hall is lined with dark wood, the multifunctional hall with velvet, and the lounge is blue.
The rooftop garden is designed to provide natural cooling and prevent overheating of the building. The forecourt of the center will be planted with palm trees, which, according to Mecanoo's wishes, should evoke memories of the beach. Link>