The autonomous community of Galicia is home to one of the most important and significant cultural centres in the country, built a few years ago on the outskirts of the autonomous capital city, Santiago de Compostela. To get there, I left the city of Ourense, heading along the national road N-525 until reaching the ring road of the city of Compostela and taking a section of the AP-9 motorway to the exit where this complex is located. Upon arrival, the size and the way this modern architectural engineering work blends into the surroundings is impressive, seeming to be an extension of the land itself. Located on Mount Galas, it commands views of the city as well as a natural environment of trees and native forest. In addition to the viewing point, the gardens of this space are another of the attractions of this large complex of the so-called City of Culture of Galicia.
La comunidad autónoma de Galicia alberga uno de los centros culturales más importante y significativo del país, construido hace unos pocos años a la afueras de la ciudad capital autonómica, Santiago de Compostela. Para llegar partí desde la ciudad de Ourense dirigiéndome por la carretera nacional N-525 hasta llegar a la circunvalación de la ciudad de Compostela y tomar un tramo de la autopista AP-9 hasta la salida a donde está ubicado este complejo. A la llegada impresiona el tamaño y el mimetismo con el entorno que esta obra de ingeniería arquitectónica moderna tiene pareciendo estar en una prolongación del propio terreno. Situada sobre el monte Galas domina unas vistas a la ciudad además de un entorno natural de arboleda y bosque autóctono. Además del mirador los jardines de este espacio constituyen otro de los atractivos de este gran complejo de la llamada Ciudad de la Cultura de Galicia.
Galician City of Culture / Ciudad de la Cultura de Galicia
When I arrived early, I found a large, completely clear parking area and I was excited, feeling like I was one of the few people visiting the complex at that time. I had previously been to the city of Santiago de Compostela where I spent the night and after breakfasting on churros and coffee I found out about this great cultural centre. They were kind enough to explain to me that the idea for its construction was submitted to an international competition with prestigious architects from around the world and that the project was won by the American Peter Eisenman of the Five Architects group from New York. The prestige of this architect and his group is reflected in the construction of different large projects such as the Ohio State University or the large Columbus convention hall. Knowing this information helped me understand the magnitude with which this competition had been treated, since many other renowned studios and architects applied for it.
Al llegar bien temprano encontré una gran zona de aparcamientos completamente despejada y me emocione sintiéndome de las pocas personas que en ese momento visitaban el complejo. Había estado anteriormente en la ciudad de Santiago de Compostela donde pernocte y después del desayunar unos churros con café me informe sobre este gran centro cultural. Tuvieron a bien explicarme que la idea de su construcción fue sometida a un concurso internacional con prestigiosos arquitectos de todo el mundo y que había ganado el proyecto el norteamericano Peter Eisenman del grupo Five Architecs de New York. El prestigio de este arquitecto y de su grupo queda plasmado en la construcción de diferentes grandes proyectos como la Universidad del Estado de Ohio o la gran sala de convenciones Columbus. El saber estos datos me ayudo a comprender la magnitud con el que había sido tratado este concurso ya que otros muchos estudios y arquitectos de renombre optaron a él.
Its exterior, completely camouflaged and blended into the surroundings, has that industrial mining touch of the area and the stone used is extracted from the quarries of the region, making it a large complex puzzle in its construction. The shape of the bivalve of a pilgrim's shell or inverted scallop gives it that authentic appearance that is a symbol of the pilgrims to the capital of Santiago de Compostela and its cathedral. Inside there are more surprises, the shape of the internal structure, its pillars and windows have nothing to do with what is seen from the outside. I entered several of the buildings and each one housed different sections, a museum, a concert hall or a room that particularly caught my attention, the one with the models and relief plan of this complex.
Su exterior completamente camuflado y mimetizado con el entrono tiene ese toque industrial minero de la zona y la piedra usada es extraída de las canteras de la región siendo un gran puzle complejo en su construcción. La forma de él bivalvo de concha de peregrino o vieira invertida da ese aspecto tan autentico que es un símbolo de los peregrinos a la capital de Santiago de Compostela y su catedral. En el interior más sorpresas, la forma de la estructura interna, sus pilares y ventanales nada tiene que ver con lo que desde fuera se observa. Entre en varios de los edificios y cada uno albergaba diferentes secciones, museo, sala de conciertos o una sala que llamo en especial mi atención, la de las maquetas y plano en relieve de este complejo.
The entrance to another of the complexes with a large hall and many offices and offices had me tangled up for a while in the corridors of the different sections and levels of the building. From inside, you could clearly appreciate the architectural complexity of this place. Every corner, every bend was completely different and there were no two spaces alike in the entire internal structure. The celebration of large events and being one of the cultural nerve centers of the Galician community gave it that special touch that one feels when walking through this place.
La entrada en otro de los complejos con un gran hall y muchas oficinas y despachos me tuvo enredado un rato por los pasillos de las diferentes secciones y alturas del edificio. Desde dentro si se podía apreciar bien la complejidad arquitectónica de este lugar. Cada esquina, cada recodo era completamente diferente y no había dos espacios iguales en toda la estructura interna. La celebración de grandes eventos y ser uno de los puntos neurálgicos culturales de la comunidad de Galicia le daban ese toque tan especial que uno siente cuando pasea por este lugar.
The City of Culture is a unique architectural complex and is one of the complexes that modern architecture has singled out as a world-class space. Once I left the buildings, I could only look back and admit that I was impressed by this place.
El espacio de la Ciudad de la Cultura es un conjunto arquitectónico único y es uno de los complejos señalados por la arquitectura moderna como espacio de referente mundial. Una vez salí del interior de los edificios solo me quedo echar una vista atrás y reconocer que me había impresionado este sitio.
For a visit to this place, I suggest a stay of several days in the city of Santiago de Compostela to see and visit the wonderful stone city and this cultural space. I share my trip and record my experience on the world map. I extend an invitation to visit the beautiful places that I present to you. Greetings friends.
Para una visita a este lugar sugiero una estancia de varios días en la ciudad de Santiago de Compostela para ver y visitar la maravillosa ciudad de piedra y este espacio cultural. Comparto mi viaje y dejo constancia de mi experiencia en el mapa mundial. Les extiendo una invitación para visitar los bonitos lugares que les presento. Saludos amigos.
| Categoría | Phototalent |
| Ajustes | ISO-100 f/8 1/100s |
| Cámara | Nikon D7100 - Olympus E410 y Kodak Z |
| Lente | Nikkor or Olympus |
| Localización | Spain |
Image ©oscarps. All Rights Reserved.
Original content by @oscarps
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Wow, how wonderful each of the structures you share with us, you gave us a spectacular tour. That you shared with us the architectural part where you show the models of the structure is great. Thank you so much for sharing your experience through this wonderful writing and all these photographs. I was totally impressed with this design, it was truly a visual pleasure to observe it.
Thank you very much for appreciating this trip to this wonderful site, yes that work of architecture is fascinating, greetings @gaboamc2393
Hiya, @lauramica here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made it into our Honorable Mentions in Travel Digest #2379.
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