cor & asociados: music hall and house in algueña

‘music hall and house in algueña’ by cor & asociados, algueña, alicante, spain all images courtesy of cor & asociados image © david frutos

spanish practice cor & asociados has recently completed ‘music hall and house in algueña’, a venue for the musical and cultural activities of the small village of algueña in the alicante county of spain. an extensive schedule of activities will occur at the site and called for a large usable area with a limited budget. retired since the 1980s, an original building intended for the guardia civil’s quarter has been rehabilitated with the implementation of a park and open-air auditorium to complete the complex. positioned to the west of the village, the green buffer between the entities contains a garden with jacarandas producing a gathering space for inhabitants within the urban fabric.

entry elevation of the addition responds to the cliffs beyondimage © david frutos

the existing U-shaped structure is squared with an additional volume generating an open air internal courtyard for rehearsals and events. visitors may circulate through the central plaza to access the new multipurpose hall capable of accommodating 230 seats as needed. the space may host diverse functions including concerts and holiday festivals with storage facilities. devoid of windows, the rectangular form is clad with pearly iridescent ceramic panels which change in color and illumination in varied lighting and cloud conditions, creating a subtly dynamic element in the landscape. the low-profile and simple proportions evoke a similar character to the area’s industrial remnants while the retention of the adjacent landmark strengthens the community’s roots. artists were chosen to paint colorful murals into the historical door jambs and lintels adding a dynamic accent to the blanched exterior.

view of center from the villageimage © david frutos

iridescent facade responds to changing lighting and cloud conditionsimage © david frutos

side elevationimage © david frutos

transition between old and new buildingsimage © david frutos

transparent connection between original structure and additionimage © david frutos

stairway borders an interior courtyardimage © david frutos

courtyardimage © david frutos

entrance to courtyard from multipurpose hallimage © david frutos

segmented acoustical panels gradually arc towards the center of the hallimage © david frutos

elevated platform for stageimage © david frutos

entrance to courtyard from original buildingimage © david frutos

original edifice with murals painted into the door jambs and lintels image © david frutos

restored edificeimage © david frutos

iridescent facade of the multipurpose hall at sunsetimage © david frutos

facade in different lighting conditionsimages © david frutos

constructionimages © david frutos

painting of muralsimages © david frutos

vicinity map

context map

floor plan / level 0

floor plan / level 1

section

section

model

rendering of auditorium with seating

project info:

office + design team: cor & asociados. miguel rodenas + jesús olivares client: town council of algueña status: built type: public building site: algueña, alicante, spain. 38º 20’ 24.00” n 1º 00’ 28.06” w area: 715 m2 budget: 776.885 EU photography: david frutos