Centro Niemeyer
| Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre | |
|---|---|
| Centro Cultural Internacional Oscar Niemeyer | |
Centro Niemeyer
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| General information | |
| Type | International cultural centre |
| Location | Avilés, Asturias, Spain |
| Address | Avda. del Zinc |
| Coordinates | 43°33′25″N 5°54′59″W / 43.556884°N 5.916288°W |
| Opened | Spring 2011 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Oscar Niemeyer |
| Website | |
| niemeyercenter.org | |
The Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre or Centro Niemeyer (Spanish: Centro Cultural Internacional Oscar Niemeyer, popularly known as el Niemeyer), is a cultural centre complex designed by the Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer and an international project. The centre is located on the estuary of Avilés, Asturias in northwest Spain. It was inaugurated on 26 May 2011.
Its imposing size and its white, red, and yellow exterior make it a highly visible landmark on the town's landscape.
Oscar Niemeyer, from Brasilia, Brazil, one of the most influential modernist architects in the world was awarded the Prince of Asturias Award for Art in 1989. This was the beginning of the relationship between Niemeyer and the Principality region of Asturias. Years later, as a present for the 25th anniversary of the Awards, Niemeyer donated a project to the principality. His design has become a project meant to be an international reference in the cultural field. It is dedicated to education, culture and, peace. The centre is the first work by Niemeyer in Spain, and he had said he believes it is his most important in Europe, which is the reason for its name - Centro Niemeyer.
The Niemeyer Centre is formed by five main elements that complement each other:
The main feature in Niemeyer's work are the building's curves. The building's colours - mainly white, red, yellow and blue - reflect the influence of Neoplasticism on his work.
The first stone was laid on April 2008. The museum building structure was built in about an hour as a result of the use of a pioneering building techniques. This allowed the whole structure to be set up in about and hour. Then the multipurpose building and the Auditorium were constructed. The materials used were mainly concrete and glass. Also during this time the base of the Tower was started, but it was not until the structures of other buildings were almost finished that the work on the Tower was visible. An underground car park was added. The Open Square was covered in white concrete. The sides of the Auditorium were painted yellow, creating a contrast with the dominant white colour on the rest of the buildings. On one of the sides of the auditorium, a ceramic art work, designed by Niemeyer, represents the outline of a woman resting. The stage door was painted red. This door can be open to the square, so that shows can take part inside or outside the building.
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Wikipedia